Reduction and sustainability of cesarean section surgical site infection: An evidence-based, innovative, and multidisciplinary quality improvement intervention bundle program.
We found cesarean section (C-section) surgical site infection (SSI) at our institution was significantly higher than the national benchmark.



A retrospective cohort study was conducted under 4 phases from January 2008-December 2014. The hospital infection control (IC) policies and a presurgical checklist were bundled and implemented. The study was conducted with 3,334 cesarean deliveries: phase A (January 1, 2008-January 31,2010): 1,250 patients without intervention (baseline SSI rate), phase B (February 1, 2010-July 31, 2011): 682 patients were intervened with IC policies, phase C (August 1, 2011-December 31, 2012): 591 patients with an SSI reduction bundle, and phase D (January 1, 2013-December 31, 2014): 811 patients were monitored for C-section SSI sustainability. Patients not following strict protocols because of emergency C-section deliveries were excluded. The χ2test, Fisher exact test, and standard Z test were used for statistical analyses.



C-section SSI rates were 6.2% (77/1,250) in phase A, 3.7% (25/682) in phase B, 1.7% (10/591) in phase C, and 0.1% (1/811) in phase D, respectively. By implementing the IC policies and bundle, the C-section SSI rate was reduced 40.3% (phase B vs phase A), 72.6% (phase C vs phase A), and 98.4% (phase D vs phase A). All statistics were significantly different.



We conclude that implementing a C-section SSI reduction bundle was associated with reduced C-section SSI rate down toward zero. A future prospectively randomized controlled trial is warranted.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, NY; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI. Electronic address: chsu@med.wayne.edu.
Chaur-Dong
CD
Hsu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, NY.
Inna
I
Cohn
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, NY.
Rebeca
R
Caban
D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016134:Organizational Policy; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
Surgical site infection; bundle; cesarean section