Bacterial Vaginosis and Its Relation to Caesarean Wound Infection

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Lecturer of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University

2 Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University

3 Master degree, Resident of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University

Abstract

Background: Postoperative infections frequently occur as consequences of obstetric & gynecologic surgeries. The pathogenesis of following-cesarean endometritis and following-surgery cuff cellulitis includes the upward dis-semination of potentially harmful bacteria present in the vagina. BV is related to elevated vaginal levels of specific facultative and anaerobic bacteria. BV is a potential risk factor for infections following surgery in gynecology and obstetrics.   
Objectives: to assess the correlation between bacterial vaginosis & cesarean infection of the wound.   
Methods: This prospective cohort investigation has been carried out at the Obstetrics & Gynecology department of Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital, from Octo-ber 2023 to June 2024. The investigation included a total of 230 pregnant females who were scheduled for elective Caesarean Section & met the specified criteria for exclu-sion & inclusion. The incidence of infection in the cae-sarean wound was significantly greater in the group with bacterial vaginosis. 
Results: Statistically insignificant variances were ob-served among the study groups in terms of body mass index, age, previous cesarean section, parity, & fetal ges-tational age. The scoring of wounds in the Southampton group was significantly elevated in the bacterial vagino-sis group. The occurrence of Grade zero was significantly lower in the bacterial vaginosis group, however Grades IV and V were significantly greater in the bacterial vagi-nosis group. The incidence of infection of deep cesarean wound was slightly higher in the BV group, but this dif-ference was statistically insignificant.
Conclusion: Most females with bacterial vaginosis are asymptomatic & are at a greater probability of adverse infectious complications because of cesarean delivery. The identification of bacterial vaginosis (BV) is rapid, un-complicated, & cost-effective. BV is a significant issue of public health that is frequent among pregnant females & is related to surgery site infections. Performing bacterial vaginosis screening on women before undergoing a cesar-ean section can help to further decrease the occurrence of infections following surgery in a manner that is both safe and economical. 

Keywords