Vaginal Preparation Prior to Cesarean Delivery: Obstetric Consensus Conference

Post-operative infections are the most common cause of postpartum morbidity and significantly affect maternal well-being as well as hospital readmissions.1 The greatest risk factor for postpartum infection is cesarean section, which is associated with a 5-20 fold increased risk of infection compared to vaginal delivery.2 Approximately 30% of deliveries nationwide and 40% of deliveries at the University of Washington occur by cesarean section. The most frequent postpartum infectious complications are endometritits (6-27%), fever (5-24%), and wound infection (2-9%).3