Low Risk of Post-Cesarean Section Infection in Insulin-Requiring Diabetic Women
- Laura E Riley, MD,
- Ruth E Tuomala, MD,
- Tim Heeren, PHD and
- Michael F Greene, MD
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Harvard Medical School Boston
- University School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Boston, Massachusetts
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Laura E. Riley, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Founders 4, 32 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02114. E-mail: riley.laura{at}mgh.harvard.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine if insulin-requiring diabetic women undergoing nonelective cesarean section are at higher risk for postoperative infection than nondiabetic women.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Medical records of a cohort of insulin-requiring diabetic women who underwent cesarean section after labor or rupture of membranes and nondiabetic control subjects matched for age and insurance status were retrospectively reviewed. Data abstracted included maternal characteristics, antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum events.
RESULTS Post-cesarean section infection including endometritis, wound infection, and septic pelvic thrombophlebitis occurred in 10.2% of 205 diabetic women and 12.1% of control subjects, in whom antibiotic prophylaxis was used in 79% of diabetic women and 84% of control subjects. Duration of rupture of membranes was a significant risk factor for post-cesarean section infection in both groups.
CONCLUSIONS Insulin-requiring diabetic women undergoing nonelective cesarean section with antimicrobial prophylaxis have a rate of postoperative infection similar to that for nondiabetic women.
- Received August 28, 1995.
- Revision received January 25, 1996.
- Accepted January 25, 1996.
- Copyright © 1996 by the American Diabetes Association
