title: Obstetric perineal wound infection:  is there underreporting?
abstract: Obstetric perineal wound infection is a complication of perineal trauma during vaginal delivery; however, it is difficult to establish its true incidence as women present for treatment to their GP or the hospital.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish the incidence and risk factors of wound infection in postpartum women with sutured tears.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 3-month prospective audit was carried out on all women who sustained sutured tears. Wound infection was defined as the presence of any two of the following markers: perineal pain, wound dehiscence, or purulent vaginal discharge. A total of 341 women were contacted by telephone 21 days post-delivery and asked about markers for perineal wound infection and antibiotic use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 409 women sustained sutured perineal tears, including episiotomies, and first, second, third and fourth degree tears. Of the 341 (83%) women contacted, 39 (11%) had a perineal wound infection based on the criteria of any two infection markers. Sixteen(5%) women had all three markers of wound infection. Prolonged rupture of membranes and instrumental delivery was a significant risk factor for women with two and three markers of wound infection,respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One in ten women who sustained a perineal tear at vaginal delivery that required suturing developed perineal wound infection. Instrumental deliveries and prolonged rupture of membranes predispose women to perineal wound infection.
authors.affiliation: Croydon University Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: Adeyemi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Ranee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thakar
authors.forename: Abdul H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Sultan
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009731:Nursing Audit; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D010502:Perineum / Q000293:injuries*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011645:Puerperal Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents