Unrecognized Glove Perforation May Raise Infection Risk After Cesarean, reveals study

The researchers employed a water-fill test to detect these micro-perforations, which were not visible to the naked eye. The findings revealed that 21.8% of patients whose surgical gloves had micro-perforations developed SSIs, compared to only 2.2% in the control group with intact gloves. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that micro-perforation was a significant independent predictor of SSI, with an adjusted odds ratio of 12.705 (95% CI: 4.244–38.039; p < 0.001), even after adjusting for potential confounders such as diabetes, obesity, emergency cesarean, operative duration, and intraoperative blood loss.

The study underscores the importance of recognizing glove integrity as a critical factor in preventing SSIs. The authors suggest that unrecognized glove perforation should be considered a risk factor for SSI after cesarean section and recommend implementing preventive measures, such as routine use of double-gloving and regular glove integrity checks, especially during high-risk procedures.

These findings call for heightened awareness and adherence to aseptic techniques to mitigate the risk of postoperative infections in cesarean deliveries.