Endomyometritis after cesarean delivery in the era of antibiotic prophylaxis: incidence and risk factors

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the rate of postpartum endomyometritis (PPE) after cesarean delivery (CD) in the era of antibiotic prophylaxis and determine risk factors.

Methods: A single institution retrospective study was performed in women undergoing CD. Data regarding obstetrical and surgical variables were collected. Diagnosis of PPE was made clinically.

Results: Among 2419 patients, the rate of PPE was 1.6% (n = 38) and was associated with lower age (27.0 versus 31.0; p < .001). 65.7% of patients having chorioamnionitits developed PPE, but only 5.4% of patients without PPE had chorioamnionitis (p < .001). On multivariate analysis, PPE was higher in emergent versus scheduled CD (OR: 5.89; p = .0081). There was no difference in PPE for cefazolin 2 g versus 1 g (OR: 1.91; p = .17) or 3 g versus 1 g (OR: 3.69; p = .29), gentamicin/clindamycin versus cefazolin (OR: 5.60; p < .001) had higher PPE. Women with PPE were more likely to have labor arrest (OR: 4.336; p = .001), sexually transmitted infection during the pregnancy (OR: 4.197; p = .02) or blood transfusion (OR: 9.50; p < .0001).

Conclusions: While the overall rate of PPE was low, several risk factors were identified. Preoperative diagnosis of chorioamnionitits is associated with a higher rate of PPE. Further studies are needed to identify optimal regimens for antimicrobial prophylaxis in women undergoing CD.

Keywords:

• Postpartum endomyometritis
• cesarean delivery
• antibiotic prophylaxis

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

This article was presented in part as an oral presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Infectious Disease Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology on 8–11 August 2016 in Annapolis, Maryland.