[Cesarean section and risk of infection]

The risk of infection associated with Caesarean section is several times greater than normal parturition. The only way to effectively combat nosocomial infections is to ensure harmonious and well-balanced interplay between general antimicrobial measures at all levels (i.e., hospital hygiene), even though the rate of Caesarean sections has been on the increase, while avoiding at the same time the general use of antibiotics. The article presents a suitable overall concept to prevent infection. This has been successful in reducing the rate of both antibiotics consumption and of infectious complications at our hospital during the past 15 years.