Subcutaneous Antibiotic Irrigation to Prevent Wound Infection in Obese Patients Undergoing Cesarean Section

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) pose considerable morbidity and account for up to 20% of all nosocomial infections in surgical patients Aim of the Work: to determine the efficacy & safety of irrigation of subcutaneous tissue by Gentamicin for caesarean section Incision in reducing the risk of post-caesarean wound complications among obese women compared with placebo. Patients and Methods: This prospective randomized clinical trial study was conducted on total 132 obese patients who underwent elective cesarean section at Ain Shams University Maternity hospitals. This study was conducted on obese women undergoing caesarean section at Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital with the following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were distributed randomly into 2 groups using a computer based program: Group (A) N = 66: CS with Irrigation of subcutaneous tissue by placebo (200 ml of saline 0.9 %). Group (B) N = 66: CS with irrigation of subcutaneous tissue by Gentamicin solution ( 1mg/kg gentamicin in 200 ml of saline 0.9%). Results: The results of this study revealed that the rate of SSI was less in gentamycin (3%) (n=2/66) than control group (4.5%) (n=3/66) with no statistical significance between them . postoperative hospital stay and readmission rate due to SSI for the gentamycin group were also shorter but not statistically different in compared to the control group. Applying local gentamycin antibiotic irrigation during wound closure after cesarean section in obese patients is not recommended. NO role of local gentamycin irrigation in subcutaneous tissue in prevention of wound surgical site infection. Conclusion: as evident from the current study, In obese women undergoing elective CS , wound irrigation with Gentamicin is not superior to wound irrigation with placebo (saline 0.9) regarding efficacy & safety.