Surgical wound infection is the infection of the skin surrounding the incision or cut site following cesarean section surgery.
Most surgical wound infections occur in the first 30 days after surgery. There is an increased risk of wound infection if you have any of the following risk factors: diabetes, obesity or smoking.
When the surgical wound becomes infected, redness of the area around the cut may be observed, appearing warm to the touch and with possible pus discharge. There may be pain in the area and fever.
Diagnosis is based on a recent history of cesarean section and examination of the wound showing signs of inflammation/infection.
Treatment consists of early administration of analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics. In more severe cases or if there is little response to medical treatment, it may be necessary to drain the pus from the infected area by means of a new surgery.
- Prevención y control de la herida quirúrgica. Documentos técnicos sobre infección nosocomial. Sociedad Española de Medicina Preventiva Salud Pública e Higiene. Disponible en: ww.mpsp.es
- Dellinger E. Infecciones quirúrgicas. En: Sabinston D, editor. Tratado de patología quirúrgica. 15.ª ed. México: McGraw-Hill Interamericana; 1999.
- Santalla A et al. Infección de la Herida quirúrgica. Prevención y tratamiento. Clinica e Investigación en Ginecologia y Obstetricia (2007) DOI: 10.1016/S0210-573X(07)74505-7
