The Risk of Post Cesarean Surgical Site Infection in Meconium-stained amniotic fluid

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) after cesarean sections contribute to maternal morbidity and increased healthcare costs. Cesarean delivery is performed when vaginal delivery poses risks to the mother or fetus. Meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) raises concerns regarding SSIs.Aim: To investigate the association between post-cesarean SSIs and MSAF.Patients and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at Al-Yarmuk Teaching Hospital from January to December 2022, involving 200 pregnant women (singleton or multiple) admitted for elective or emergency cesarean sections. Participants were divided into two groups: Group A (100 women with MSAF) and Group B (100 women with clear amniotic fluid).Results: Obesity was significantly associated with wound infections (P<0.001), with a higher mean BMI (28.96 ± 4.974 kg/m²) among infected women. The odds ratio for wound infection in women with MSAF was 1.880 (95% CI: 1.3906-2.9859), but not statistically significant (P=0.7594). Clear liquor was associated with lower infection odds (0.861, P<0.001). Adjusting for BMI showed a significant odds ratio of 1.155 (P=0.0064) for wound infection in women with MSAF. Other factors like smoking and type of cesarean did not achieve statistical significance.Conclusion: MSAF showed no significant effect on surgical site infections. Risk factors such as obesity and diabetes may influence infection rates. Future multicenter studies with larger sample sizes are needed to standardize prophylactic antibiotic use.