The reduction of surgical site infections in cesarean section deliveries by implementation of a surgical care pathway
Caroline Bilen, Ramesar SV, Hugo H, Bouwer B and Mailula T
M South Africa Pty Ltd., South Africa
Louis Pasteur Private Hospital, South Africa
: Androl Gynecol: Curr Res
Abstract
Caesarean section deliveries are an important surgical procedure that is used to improve both maternal and fetal outcomes in complicated pregnancies. In recent times, however, the convenience of the surgery for both mother and surgeon has resulted in an increasing global trend of C-section deliveries which according to the World Health Organization has now reached pandemic proportions. The nature of the surgery makes it a high-risk procedure and the incidence of infection have been increasing in both well and under-resourced countries. Since the entire process is not limited to a single hospital department, a multi-disciplinary approach is needed to minimize the risk of infections. For this study, a surgical care pathway was introduced as part of a performance improvement project to a private hospital in South Africa which resulted in C-section infection rates decreasing from 5.12±0.82% to 0.23±0.15% (p<0.0001).
Biography
Caroline Bilen holds BS in Nursing, certified in Infection Control (NYIC) as well as Educator for NYIC certification. She is JCI certified Educator for JCI education program “Safety in Surgical Services”. She has more than 28 years’ experience in nursing management, infection control and health care quality, accreditation management and elderly care. She held the position of Director of Nursing Services at Home Care Lebanon, where she was leading the Health Care Team and responsible for patient safety, from 1997 to 2004. From 1994 to 1997, she held the position of Operating Room Nursing Manager in Lebanon. Later, she joined 3M in 2004 and has been working closely with Hospitals Management team, Infection Control and Patient Safety Committees all over the CEEMEA region to improve patient safety, expectations and outcomes. She has a publication on the reduction of surgical site infections in cesarean section deliveries by implementation of a surgical care pathway. cbilen@mmm.com
