Decreasing infectious morbidity in cesarean delivery by changing gloves

Abstract

Objective: To assess whether changing the entire surgical team's gloves intraoperatively, after delivery of the placenta, would reduce the rate of postcesarean wound infection.

Study design: Women who underwent cesarean delivery were randomized to a group where the surgical team changed the surgical gloves after delivery of the placenta or to a control group, where surgical gloves were not changed during the cesarean procedure.

Results: Ninety-two patients were randomized to 2 groups of 46 patients each. The group where the surgical team changed their gloves had significantly less serosanguineous drainage 24 hours after surgery (3 vs. 8 patients, 8.3% vs. 22.2%, P = .2, RR 2.7, CI 0.7, 12.4) and fewer wound infections (2 vs. 9 women, 5.5% vs. 25%, P = .05, RR 4.5, CI 0.982, 29.8).

Conclusion: Obstetricians may decrease the number of postcesarean wound infections by having the entire team change surgical gloves after delivery of the placenta.