In plain words
A surgical site infection is an infection in or around the incision made during surgery. After a , it can affect the skin, the deeper tissue under the skin, or the space inside the wound. Common signs are redness, warmth, swelling, pus or drainage, a wound that opens, and fever. Many infections show up in the first week after surgery, though some appear later. Risk is higher with obesity, diabetes, long labor before surgery, and smoking. Most infections are treated and the wound heals well. Your provider may check the incision at visits and ask about fever. Call your provider the same day if the incision looks different or you feel unwell.
The deeper version
Surgical site infection after cesarean is classified as superficial incisional, deep incisional, or organ-space infection under CDC and NHSN criteria. Surgical site infection and are among the more common short-term complications of cesarean birth. Risk factors include obesity, diabetes, emergency cesarean, prolonged labor, and membrane rupture. Prophylactic antibiotics given before incision reduce risk, and their timing and choice follow ACOG guidance.
Where it comes up
- Cesarean recovery, week by weekPostpartum: Your Body
- Signs of infection after birthPostpartum: Your Body
- What happens in a cesareanBirth and the First Days
- Eating for tissue healingNourishment and Traditions
What mothers here say about surgical site infection
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Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Use of Prophylactic Antibiotics in Labor and Delivery, Practice Bulletin 199, 2018
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — National Healthcare Safety Network, surgical site infection event criteria