A surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common complications of caesarean section (CS) surgery, with an average UK incidence rate of 9.6% and 0.6% recurrence rate 1 .
It is associated with significant morbidity, increased use of antibiotics, prolonged hospital visits, wound dehiscence (the partial or total separation of previously approximated wound edges due to a failure of wound healing), sepsis (a life-threatening reaction of the body to infection) and occasionally maternal death.
As CS rates continue to increase globally, particularly with growing antimicrobial resistance, the risk posed by SSI will also increase.
In 2021, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) underwent an internal audit, which showed an overall CS infection rate of 5.1% (the trust acknowledged that this figure could be higher when considering infections, not leading to readmission, that are managed in the community and could not be accounted for).
In response to this, the Maternity Department sought to change their clinical practices to improve outcomes for CS patients. In January 2022 the trust began a 12 month trial of the Leukomed Sorbact dressing.
The rise in caesarean section rates internationally has further increased the importance of preventing surgical site infections (SSI). By switching to Leukomed Sorbact bacteria binding dressings, for all patients undergoing a caesarean section, SSI reduced by 38%, resulting in fewer readmissions to hospital and improving the postnatal experience for patients.
Source: NHS Supply Chain
Date: 21 August