Loading
Infection Prevention and Control / Surgical Site Infection · Journal article
Infection Prevention in Practice · August 7, 2026
Encouraging direction, but not yet definitive.
In six Nigerian tertiary hospitals, prolonged surgical duration >90 minutes was the only factor significantly associated with SSI after CS (adjusted OR 3.28). The majority of SSIs (72.1%) occurred 1–14 days post-surgery and were detected after discharge (77.5%), with symptom onset peaking in week 2 and clinician notification occurring within the first two weeks in three-quarters of cases. These findings highlight the need for enhanced postdischarge surveillance and early follow-up strategies in sub-Saharan African settings.
Retrospective matched case–control study. Women who underwent caesarean section at six tertiary hospitals in Nigeria between September 2022 and February 2023. Inclusion: complete clinical and operative records. Exclusion: incomplete records, particularly missing outcome data or key variables, or delivery outside participating hospitals.. Intervention: Caesarean section (observed, not administered). Compared with: Cases with SSI within 30 days post-CS vs. controls without SSI. n = 204. Six tertiary hospitals in Nigeria representing major geographic zones.
Surgery exceeding 90 min associated with SSI: odds ratio 3.28 (95% CI 1.20–8.99, P = 0.042) Most SSIs (72.1%) occurred within 1–14 days post-surgery 77.5% of SSIs were detected after discharge
Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.
Clinicians and infection prevention teams in sub-Saharan Africa should prioritize postdischarge follow-up and patient education around the second postoperative week, when SSI symptoms are most likely to appear and currently are being detected after hospital discharge. Prolonged surgical time warrants particular vigilance for SSI signs.
A well-designed retrospective matched case–control study from six tertiary hospitals with clear findings on SSI timing and risk factors, but limited by retrospective design, modest case numbers, and single-country setting that requires confirmation.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
Clinicians and infection prevention teams in sub-Saharan Africa should prioritize postdischarge follow-up and patient education around the second postoperative week, when SSI symptoms are most likely to appear and currently are being detected after hospital discharge. Prolonged surgical time warrants particular vigilance for SSI signs.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Background. Surgical site infections (SSIs) following caesarean section (CS) are a major cause of maternal morbidity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Limited evidence exists on the timing of symptom onset and clinician notification, which are critical for surveillance and early intervention. This study aimed to (i) identify risk factors for SSI following CS, (ii) assess the timing of symptom onset within 30 days, and (iii) examine the timing of clinician notification.Methods. A retrospective matched case-control study was conducted using post-CS SSI surveillance data from six tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. Cases (N = 51) were matched with controls (N = 153) at a 1:3 ratio based on maternal age, hospital, operating surgeon, and urgency of surgery. Associations were assessed using χ2 tests and conditional logistic regression. Symptom onset was evaluated over a four-week period, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess time to clinician notification.Results. Prolonged duration of surgery was the only factor significantly associated with SSI (P = 0.042); in conditional logistic regression, surgery exceeding 90 min was associated with SSI (odds ratio: 3.28, 95% confidence interval: 1.20-8.99). Most SSIs (72.1%) occurred within 1-14 days post surgery, and 77.5% were detected after discharge. Symptom onset peaked in the second postoperative week, with wound discharge and localized swelling most frequently reported. Nearly three-quarters of clinician notifications occurred within the first two weeks.Conclusion. SSIs following CS occurred predominantly within the first two postoperative weeks and were largely detected after discharge. Strengthening postdischarge surveillance, patient education, and early follow-up, particularly around two weeks postpartum, may improve SSI detection and maternal outcomes in Nigeria.
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.