Comparative study of post operative wound infection following emergency lower segment caesarean section with and without the topical use of fusidic acid.

The study was undertaken to see the infection rate of wound following emergency caesarean section with and without the use of topical fusidic acid. The study was carried out at Himal Hospital from April 2006 to Jan. 2008. A total of 70 child bearing patients who underwent emergency caesarean sections were included. All of the patients were given absorbable subcuticular stitches. Out of the 70 patients, 35 patients had topical fusidic acid immediately after subcuticular stitches followed by dry dressing. The other 35 patients had simple dressing with povidone- iodine. Six patients (17.1%) out of the 35 patients who had dressing with povidone-iodine developed wound infection at the surgical site and only 1 patient (2.8%) out of the 35 patients with fusidic acid developed wound infection. The use of fusidic acid reduced the infection rate by six times. The relation of fusidic acid to wound infection was statistically significant (p = 0.0460).