Decreased incidence of cesarean surgical site infection rate with hospital-wide perioperative bundle.

BACKGROUND: Reduction in the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) serves as a measure of patient safety and quality improvement. Cesarean birth (CB) accounts for 31.9% of all childbirths in the United States. However, our understanding of SSI prevention bundles predominantly stems from gynecological and colorectal surgeries. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a standardized perioperative bundle designed to reduce SSI in CBs. METHODS: All CB patients at Flushing Hospital Medical Center from 2017 to 2019 were included in a retrospective analysis. Patients were divided into three groups based on the timing of intervention: prebundle/control, transition, and postbundle. Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics. Multiple logistic regression was performed to determine the association between bundle group and SSI, considering variables different between groups at baseline (P < 0.10). RESULTS: Two thousand eight hundred and seventy-five CBs were performed: 1086 in prebundle, 812 in transition, and 977 in postbundle phase. In the prebundle phase, 25 CBs (2.3%) were complicated by SSIs; in the transition phase, 10 (1.2%) had SSIs; and in the postbundle phase, 7 (0.7%; P = 0.009) had SSIs. In a logistic regression model, only use of the CB bundle (OR 0.26 [95% CI 0.07-0.94]; P = 0.04), rupture of membranes (0.29 [0.09-0.87]; P = 0.03), and operating room time (1.02 [1.01-1.04]; P = 0.01) were significant in prediction of SSI. SSI postbundle was significantly reduced from prebundle (0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Thus, introduction of a hospital-wide perioperative bundle significantly reduced SSI rates, and should be developed as a mainstay of CB surgical care.

A SWIFT Method for Handing Off Obstetrical Patients on the Labor Floor.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to improve patient handoffs on the labor floor. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of obstetrics residents at Montefiore Medical Center was performed between 2012 and 2014. Labor-floor handoffs were recorded before and after didactic sessions as well as after installation of whiteboards formatted with the mnemonic SWIFT (Subject, Why?, Issues, Fetus, Tasks). Handoff transcripts were evaluated by obstetricians blinded to timing and speaker identity. An intraclass correlation coefficient accounted for evaluator differences. Data analysis was by ordinal logistic regression, the generalized estimating equations method (correlated data), and Bonferroni adjustment (multiple comparisons). RESULTS: Forty-five handoffs were evaluated (15 each predidactics, postdidactics, and postwhiteboard revision). Higher completeness scores over time were noted for admission reason, labor concerns, and task list (not statistically significant). Comprehensive score increases prelecture to postwhiteboard were seen in handoff clarity (2.81 versus 2.91) and overall quality (2.77 versus 2.81) (not statistically significant). A subanalysis of four residents who gave multiple handoffs over different periods revealed few significant changes over time. Greater interevaluator consistency was noted with more objective elements. CONCLUSIONS: The mnemonic SWIFT, with formalized curricula for obstetrical resident training focusing on new learners and increased faculty involvement and reinforcement, may result in improvement of handoffs on the labor floor.

Vertical Transmission of COVID-19 to the Neonate.

Objective: To estimate the incidence rate of vertical transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to the neonate during the third trimester. Study Design. We conducted a retrospective observational study of pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 during the third trimester, who delivered at Flushing Hospital Medical Centre (FHMC) or Jamaica Hospital Medical Centre (JHMC) between March 20, 2020, and April 30, 2020. The study participants were symptomatic pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 via positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA, real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR) test. Evidence of vertical transmission was assessed in the neonate via a SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR test, with nasopharyngeal swab samples collected on the neonates after 24 hours of birth. The exclusion criteria for this study were maternal or neonate records without SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR test results, neonates not delivered at FHMC or JHMC, and foetuses with suspected foetal anomalies or incomplete medical records. Results: We identified 19 symptomatic pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19, including two women with twin pregnancies. Seven patients (36.8%) were delivered via cesarean. 12 patients (63.1%) presented in spontaneous labour, and 8 (38.1%) had preterm delivery. No maternal intensive care unit admission, maternal sepsis, or maternal mortality was observed. Twenty-one neonates were evaluated for COVID-19 after birth. SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR test results were negative in 100% of the neonates. Thirteen neonates (61.9%) were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Prematurity was the most common cause of NICU admission 6 (46.1%), with a length of stay of 5.5 ± 6.4 days. No invasive mechanical ventilation, neonatal sepsis, or neonatal mortality was observed. Conclusion: In our cohort, symptomatic COVID-19 during the third trimester of pregnancy was not associated with vertical transmission to the neonate.

Comparison of Subcuticular Suture Type for Skin Closure After Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the rate of wound complications among women who underwent cesarean delivery through a Pfannenstiel skin incision followed by subcuticular closure with either poliglecaprone 25 suture or polyglactin 910 suture. METHODS: Patients undergoing nonemergent cesarean delivery at or beyond 37 weeks of gestation were randomized to undergo subcuticular skin closure with either poliglecaprone 25 or polyglactin 910. The primary outcome was a wound composite outcome of one or more of the following: surgical site infection, wound separation, hematoma, or seroma within the first 30 days postpartum. To detect a reduction in the primary outcome rate from 12% to 4%, with a power of 0.90 and a two-tailed α of 0.05, 237 women per study group were required. Analysis was performed according to the intent-to-treat principle. RESULTS: From May 28, 2015, to August 5, 2016, 275 women were randomized to poliglecaprone 25 and 275 to polyglactin 910, of whom 520 (95%) were included in the final analysis: 263 in the poliglecaprone 25 group [of whom 231 (88%) actually underwent poliglecaprone 25 closure) and 257 in the polyglactin 910 group [of whom 209 (81%) actually underwent polyglactin 910 closure]. The groups were similar in demographic characteristics, medical comorbidities, and perioperative characteristics. Poliglecaprone 25 was associated with a significantly decreased rate of overall wound complications when compared with polyglactin 910, 8.8% compared with 14.4% (relative risk 0.61, 95% CI 0.37-0.99; P=.04). CONCLUSION: Closure of the skin after cesarean delivery with poliglecaprone 25 suture decreases the rate of wound complications compared with polyglactin 910 suture. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02459093.

Skin Preparation for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection After Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare chlorhexidine with alcohol, povidone-iodine with alcohol, and both applied sequentially to estimate their relative effectiveness in prevention of surgical site infections after cesarean delivery. METHODS: Women undergoing nonemergent cesarean birth at greater than 37 0/7 weeks of gestation were randomly allocated to one of three antiseptic skin preparations: povidone-iodine with alcohol, chlorhexidine with alcohol, or the sequential combination of both solutions. The primary outcome was surgical site infection reported within the first 30 days postpartum. Based on a surgical site infection rate of 12%, an anticipated 50% reduction for the combination group relative to either single skin preparation group, with a power of 0.90 and an α of 0.05, 430 women per group were needed to detect a difference. RESULTS: From January 2013 to July 2014, 1,404 women were randomly assigned to one of three groups: povidone-iodine with alcohol (n=463), chlorhexidine with alcohol (n=474), or both (n=467). The groups were similar with respect to demographics, medical disorders, indication for cesarean delivery, operative time, and blood loss. The overall rate of surgical site infection-4.3%-was lower than anticipated. The skin preparation groups had similar surgical site infection rates: povidone-iodine 4.6%, chlorhexidine with alcohol 4.5%, and sequential 3.9% (P=.85). CONCLUSION: The skin preparation techniques resulted in similar rates of surgical site infections. Our study provides no support for any particular method of skin preparation before cesarean delivery. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01870583. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I.

Unilateral adrenal infarction in pregnancy.

A 25-year-old pregnant woman at 28 weeks gestational age presented with increasing abdominal pain and was found to have a unilateral adrenal infarction on a CT scan of the abdomen. Her medical history was unremarkable. There was no evidence of adrenal insufficiency with normal cortisol and adenocorticotropic hormone levels for pregnancy. Evaluation of thrombophilia disorders established the patient to be heterozygous for methylenetetrahydrofolatereductase C677T gene mutation as the only finding. The patient was anticoagulated to prevent contralateral thrombosis. At 32 weeks she experienced spontaneous rupture of membranes. One week later she delivered vaginally and remained anticoagulated for the puerperium.