Caesarean section is the most common major surgical procedure worldwide. In the UK it accounts for 20 to 25 % of all deliveries. Surgical site infection is responsible for significant additional cost to the NHS. A number of maternal factors will increase the risk of wound infection such as a booking BMI of over 35, maternal diabetes, emergency caesarean section and intrapartum sepsis. Northern Ireland as a region in 2011 first started to examine SSI rates led by the Public Health Agency (PHA). This project is based in a busy district general hospital where the caesarean section rate is 28%.
Aim: To reduce the Surgical Site Infection rate post caesarean section among women delivered in Antrim Area Hospital by 50 % by March 2015.
