Postcesarean infection

M C Normand1, E G Damato

  • 1Department of Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Postpartum, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Nashua, USA.

In 1998, 20.2% of the approximately 4 million births in the United States occurred via cesarean delivery. Routine antibiotic prophylaxis has significantly reduced morbidity, yet each year between 41,000 and 206,000 women develop a subsequent infection of the uterus or surgical incision. A thorough understanding of the pathophysiology and complex interaction of risk factors for metritis and wound infection is vital for perinatal nurses. Nurses have a critical role in the identification and treatment of postcesarean infection.

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