Effect of preoperative vaginal preparation with 0.3% chlorhexidine-cetrimide versus 10% povidone-iodine on post cesarean section infection in obstetric care facility in Lagos

Caesarean section is one of the commonly performed surgical procedures in obstetrics and certainly one of the oldest operations in surgery; the incidence of caesarean section has steadily risen over time. The increasing use of caesarean section as a mode of delivery is due to improved safety of the procedure, appropriate use of antibiotics, blood availability, and improved anaesthetic techniques. Despite all the advances for safety, infectious morbidity after cesarean delivery still complicates the procedure and can have a tremendous impact on the postpartum woman’s ability to return to normal function and her ability to care for her baby. Globally, the procedure is widely embraced and utilized but additional challenges in the developing regions include aversion, misconception, guilt and fear surrounds the procedure especially in Nigeria. Infectious morbidity is the most frequent complication of cesarean delivery. Of women who have cesarean sections, 5–24% have clinically significant fevers; 6 –21% are diagnosed with uterine infections (endomyometritis or endometritis), 1–5% with more extensive pelvic infections including abscesses and 2–9% with breakdown of the surgical incision1. Death from infectious complications is rare, with an incidence of six deaths per 100,000 cesarean delivery.OBJECTIVETo determine the effects of vaginal pre-operative Chlorhexidine-gluconate solution to that of Povidone-Iodine in the prevention of post-caesarean infectious morbidities