Postpartum infection prevention after cesarean includes which practice related to technique?

Postpartum infection prevention after cesarean includes which practice related to technique?

• A. Early ambulation
• B. Adherence to aseptic technique
• C. Wound care monitoring
• D. Delayed prophylactic antibiotics

Answer: (B)

The main concept here is preventing infection by keeping a sterile environment throughout the cesarean procedure and subsequent wound care. Cesarean delivery carries a higher risk of surgical-site infection, so the most effective way to prevent postpartum infection is strict adherence to aseptic technique. This means thorough hand hygiene, using sterile gloves and instruments, proper skin antisepsis, sterile draping, maintaining a sterile field, and performing wound dressing changes with sterile technique. These practices minimize introducing bacteria into the wound and surrounding tissues. Other options don’t address the technique aspect of prevention. Early ambulation helps with respiratory and thromboembolic risks, not directly with infection. Wound care monitoring is important for catching infections early, but it’s surveillance rather than a preventive technique. Delayed prophylactic antibiotics would increase infection risk, since antibiotics for cesarean are given prophylactically before incision, not after. So, adherence to aseptic technique is the best answer for preventing postpartum infection after cesarean.

The main concept here is preventing infection by keeping a sterile environment throughout the cesarean procedure and subsequent wound care. Cesarean delivery carries a higher risk of surgical-site infection, so the most effective way to prevent postpartum infection is strict adherence to aseptic technique. This means thorough hand hygiene, using sterile gloves and instruments, proper skin antisepsis, sterile draping, maintaining a sterile field, and performing wound dressing changes with sterile technique. These practices minimize introducing bacteria into the wound and surrounding tissues.

Other options don’t address the technique aspect of prevention. Early ambulation helps with respiratory and thromboembolic risks, not directly with infection. Wound care monitoring is important for catching infections early, but it’s surveillance rather than a preventive technique. Delayed prophylactic antibiotics would increase infection risk, since antibiotics for cesarean are given prophylactically before incision, not after.

So, adherence to aseptic technique is the best answer for preventing postpartum infection after cesarean.