Negative pressure wound therapy in SSI

A recent study has highlighted the impact of negative pressure wound therapy on surgical site infection in C-section patients. The Clinical Services Journal reports. 

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are defined as an infection that occurs in a wound that is created as a result of a surgical procedure. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), “Over one-third of post-operative deaths are related, at least in part, to SSIs”.¹ Data shows that morbidities such as obesity and diabetes contribute to an increased risk of SSIs, which may significantly increase costs and require additional healthcare resources. Numerous studies have shown negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) to be an effective treatment option for surgical incisions.²

 The most common surgical site complication following surgery is infection but in some cases wound breakdown may occur as a result of other factors. This can result in wound dehiscence which may require additional surgery and prolonged treatment. Surveillance data suggests that around 2% of patients undergoing a Caesarean section (C-section) experience an infection³ although these underestimate the true scale of the problem as it excludes the majority of infections, which occur post-discharge. Surveillance data from Scotland suggest that around 85% of infections following C-sections occur following discharge.³