{
    "abstract": "To determine if the use of 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) irrigation solution during cesarean delivery (CD) can reduce\u00a0the post-cesarean surgical site infection (SSI) rate when compared to standard practices without CHG irrigation.\nA single-center\u00a0retrospective observational study was performed at a community hospital in Toledo, Ohio. Control and treatment periods were defined, and patients in the treatment group received irrigation with CHG solution during CD, while the control group did not. An electronic medical record review was conducted to note additional perioperative procedures that affect SSI rates. Patients were evaluated for infection at standard postoperative appointments using the CDC criteria, and the hospital system's department of infection prevention provided records of all documented SSIs in both groups.\u00a0Characteristics of the deliveries and SSIs of each group were compared using the chi-square or Fisher's exact two-tailed tests.\nData were available for 351 deliveries after the implementation of the CHG protocol, and 432 deliveries were used as the control group. No significant difference in rates of infection was found between the two groups (p = 0.68). There were significantly more endometritis infections diagnosed in the treatment group compared to the control group (four (1.1%) versus zero; p = 0.04). Compared to the controls, the treatment group had fewer deliveries with the use of silver dressing, more deliveries with a negative pressure dressing, and more deliveries with a diagnosis of pregestational or gestational diabetes (p < 0.05). There were no other differences between the groups, including the use of abdominal and vaginal prep, BMI > 35, and perioperative antibiotics.\nThis single center retrospective observational study revealed no difference in post-cesarean SSI rates when performing intra-abdominal and subcutaneous irrigation with CHG solution. A significant increase in endometritis was observed with the use of CHG irrigation; however, further studies are required to determine the benefit or harm of antimicrobial irrigation in CDs.",
    "authors": [
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center, Toledo, USA.",
            "firstname": "Garrison",
            "initials": "G",
            "lastname": "Myers"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center, Toledo, USA.",
            "firstname": "Marissa M",
            "initials": "MM",
            "lastname": "Coutinho"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center, Toledo, USA.",
            "firstname": "Alicia",
            "initials": "A",
            "lastname": "Huckaby"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center, Toledo, USA.",
            "firstname": "Katie",
            "initials": "K",
            "lastname": "Maloy"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Statistics, Nancy Buderer Consulting, LLC, Toledo, USA.",
            "firstname": "Nancy",
            "initials": "N",
            "lastname": "Buderer"
        }
    ],
    "conclusions": "This single center retrospective observational study revealed no difference in post-cesarean SSI rates when performing intra-abdominal and subcutaneous irrigation with CHG solution. A significant increase in endometritis was observed with the use of CHG irrigation; however, further studies are required to determine the benefit or harm of antimicrobial irrigation in CDs.",
    "copyrights": "Copyright \u00a9 2025, Myers et al.",
    "doi": "10.7759/cureus.80615",
    "journal": "Cureus",
    "keywords": [
        "antimicrobial irrigation",
        "cesarean delivery",
        "chlorhexidine gluconate",
        "endometritis",
        "irrigation",
        "irrisept",
        "surgical site infection (ssi)"
    ],
    "methods": null,
    "publication_date": "2025-04-15",
    "pubmed_id": "40230770\n36964747\n37137483\n24670166\n23596641\n17329519\n17712651\n21460463\n25350672\n28467526\n28796683\n28975304\n14226440\n30040537\n31460835\n0\n23327981\n28079334\n34322371\n25708494\n35797250\n30849351\n32960242\n21306347\n12423861\n32335895",
    "results": "Data were available for 351 deliveries after the implementation of the CHG protocol, and 432 deliveries were used as the control group. No significant difference in rates of infection was found between the two groups (p = 0.68). There were significantly more endometritis infections diagnosed in the treatment group compared to the control group (four (1.1%) versus zero; p = 0.04). Compared to the controls, the treatment group had fewer deliveries with the use of silver dressing, more deliveries with a negative pressure dressing, and more deliveries with a diagnosis of pregestational or gestational diabetes (p < 0.05). There were no other differences between the groups, including the use of abdominal and vaginal prep, BMI > 35, and perioperative antibiotics.",
    "title": "Chlorhexidine Gluconate Irrigation in the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection Following Cesarean Delivery.",
    "xml": "<Element 'PubmedArticle' at 0x788505550860>"
}