Puerperal infection after caesarean section at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg : scientific letter

Objectives. To determine the incidence of puerperal sepsis after caesarean section (CS) at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa. Methods. A longitudinal descriptive study was done on women undergoing CS, with follow-up for readmission or development of sepsis, including telephone calls 14 days after delivery. Puerperal sepsis was defined as fever (temperature ≥38°C) with vaginal bleeding, malodorous discharge or pain. Women who telephonically reported pain, bleeding or malodorous discharge were classified as having possible mild wound infection. Results and conclusion. A total of 272 women were followed up. Four (1.5%) were readmitted with puerperal sepsis, and 30 (11.0%) had possible mild wound infection. There were no significant differences between women with no evidence of infection (n=238) and those with possible infection or puerperal sepsis (n=34) with respect to indicators of socio-economic status, antenatal care attendance, antenatal anaemia, HIV status, preterm birth, elective CS or skin incision used.