6 - Delivering Safety: Reducing SSIs through Perioperative Best Practices in L&D

Description: Cesarean section (C-section) deliveries are among the most common surgical procedures performed in labor and delivery (L&D) units, yet L&D nurses often lack in-depth training in perioperative surgical techniques. This project explores the integration of evidence-based perioperative best practices, particularly clean closure techniques commonly used in bowel and oncologic surgeries, into the C-section process at a large community hospital averaging over 600 births per month.

By adapting clean closure methods to uterine closure during C-sections, this initiative aims to reduce surgical site infections (SSIs) and improve maternal outcomes. The project is a multidisciplinary collaboration involving nursing education, infection prevention, the quality department, and the physician quality committee. A targeted pilot will also provide selected RNs with advanced perioperative training through the AORN's Perioperative 101: Cesarean Section curriculum.

Implementation requires minimal investment in additional instruments and staff training, yet the potential return, preventing even a single SSI in a postpartum patient, demonstrates both clinical improvement and cost-effectiveness. This research underscores the importance of bridging the gap between L&D and perioperative nursing practice to enhance surgical safety and patient care in obstetric settings