Surgical Site Infection Following Episiotomy Repair in Relation to Routine Use of Postpartum Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Low Risk Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Maternal mortality is unacceptably high worldwide, with an estimated 300,000 women dying in 2017, of which around 200,000 deaths were in sub-Saharan Africa. Maternal infection, leading to sepsis, is a leading contributor to these deaths. Yet data for the incidence and cause of maternal infection are scarce.

Several pre-existing maternal conditions may increase the risk of developing bacterial infections among women expected to have uncomplicated vaginal births. These include conditions such as malnutrition, anemia, bacterial vaginosis, and group B streptococcus infections. In addition, complications during labor and childbirth (e.g. prolonged rupture of membranes, prolonged labor, lacerations of the genital tract and retained products of conception) or provider interventions (e.g. frequent vaginal examinations, operative vaginal birth (forceps, vacuum), and episiotomy) might increase the risk of infection in the puerperium.

Episiotomy is an intended incision taken on the perineum during the second stage of labor considered for indications in which failure to perform it will result in significant perineal rupture.

Spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) is one which occurs when a pregnant woman goes into labor without the use of drugs or other techniques to induce labor and she delivers her baby through the vagina (birth canal) without forceps, vacuum extraction, or a cesarean section. Out of the about four million deliveries occurring in the United States each year, most of them are spontaneous vaginal deliveries.

Socioeconomic status (SES) is one of the most important factors associated with medical outcomes. When SES is low, medical care is inadequate and this has been attributed to adverse outcomes. In pregnant women, low SES can increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.