Pre-operative Vaginal Cleaning with Chlorhexidine Solution in Preventing Post-Caesarean Section Infections at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The study showed that the use of 1% chlorhexidine in cleaning the vaginal before emergency caesarean section significantly reduced infectious morbidities like endometritis, decreased hospital stay. It had no effect on surgical site infection. Endo-cervical colonization by micro-organisms was significantly higher in the control 11(14%) in study group versus 41(51)% in control group, (RR) = 0.37,95% CI {0.21 – 0.64}, P 0.0001. Fowl smelling vaginal discharge was 2(2.6%) in study group versus 18(22.5%), (RR) = 9.5, 95% CI {1.30 – 64.55}, P 0.0002. Abdominal tenderness was also higher in the control group 3(3.8%) for study versus 15(30%) for control, (RR) = 2.87, 95% CI {1.00 – 8.21}, P 0.0133. Fever was also lower in the study group but was not statistically significant P value 0.286.