Postcesarean section wound infection: A case-control study of the risk factors.

A retrospective, case-control study was performed to determine risk factors associated with wound infection after cesarean section. There were 95 wound infections among 1,442 cesarean sections performed denoting a wound infection rate of 6.6%. The records of these 95 patients and 95 controls were studied. The following variables were significantly associated with wound infection: length of labor, rupture of membranes and delivery interval, number of vaginal examinations performed preoperatively, presence of chorioamnionitis, operating time, estimated blood loss during surgery, and obesity. Elective surgery resulted in a lower incidence (2.4%) of wound infection than emergency surgery (4.2%). The mean hospital stay was 5 days longer in patients with wound infection. Wound dehiscence requiring resuture occurred in 4.2% of patients.