Decreasing the Rate of Surgical Site Infection in Patients Operated by Cesarean Section in a Tertiary Care Hospital in India: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Abstract

Background Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a substantial cause of maternal morbidity and are associated with a significant increase in hospital stay and cost. The prevention of SSI is complex and requires the integration of a range of measures before, during, and after surgery. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is one of the referral centers of India with a huge influx of patients. Methods The project was undertaken by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, JNMC, AMU, Aligarh. Our department was sensitized to the need for quality improvement (QI) through Laqshya, a Government of India initiative for labor rooms in 2018. We were facing problems like a high surgical site infection rate, poor documentation and records, no standard protocols, overcrowding, and no admission discharge policy. There was a high rate of surgical site infections, leading to maternal morbidity, increased days of hospitalization, more usage of antibiotics, and increased financial burden. A multidisciplinary quality improvement (QI) team was formed comprising obstetricians and gynecologists, the hospital infection control team, the head of the neonatology unit, staff nurses, and multitasking staff (MTS) workers. Results The baseline data were collected for a period of one month and it was found that the rate of SSI was around 30%. Our aim was to decrease the rate of SSI from 30% to less than 5% over a period of six months. The QI team worked meticulously, implemented evidence-based measures, regularly analyzed the results, and devised measures to overcome the obstacles. The point-of-care improvement (POCQI) model was adopted for the project. The rate of SSI decreased significantly in our patients and the rates are around 5% persistently. Conclusion The project not only helped in decreasing the infection rates but also led to vast improvements in the department with the formulation of an antibiotic policy, surgical safety checklist, and admission-discharge policy.