[Infections after cesarean section]

Post-operative infectious morbidity was recorded in 390 patients who delivered by Caesarean section. The patients were observed closely while in hospital. Upon leaving the hospital, each was given a questionnaire, which was answered by 350 (89.7%). 10% of the patients had experienced post-operative infections, the most frequent being infections of the urinary tract or of wounds. There was no significant difference in post-operative infectious morbidity in the case of elective as against emergency Caesarean section. This may have been due to the use of prophylactic antibiotics in many cases of emergency Caesarean section. Only 28.6% of the infections were diagnosed during hospitalization. Therefore, many infections following Caesarean section are diagnosed after the patient has been discharged from hospital.