One in three expectant moms will deliver by C-section.

The last thing a new mom needs is to worry about is getting an infection from surgery. Now, there's something new to keep moms infection-free.

Swapna Reddy and her husband are less than an hour away from one of the biggest events of their lives.

"I'm very ready,” says Swapna. “I'm extremely ready."

She's 39 weeks pregnant with her second child.

"I'm extremely tired of being pregnant. I'm tired of being this big," Swapna says.

Swapna's baby is one of three gynecologist Jacques Moritz plans to deliver today -- one traditionally, two by C-section.

"I deliver about 200 babies a year," says Dr. Moritz, director of gynecology at St. Luke’s – Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan.

Infections are a major risk for new moms having a C-section.

"A C-section is usually done at the worst possible time. The woman has been in labor, the vaginal bacteria have kind of gone up inside where we need to operate," says Dr. Moritz.

During surgery, bacteria can be transferred into the body from fluids, gloves, instruments, sponges or implants. Now doctors are using a new microbial sealant that locks down bacteria on the skin.

“This sealant is basically crazy glue,” says Dr. Moritz. “Basically, it acts as a glue, and it seals the bacteria into the skin."

Before surgeons make the incision, they put the sealant on the skin. Doctors say it stops MRSA and E. coli.

"We seal in the bacteria on the skin so they don't move, so basically they don't crawl over to where we made the surgical incision," says Dr. Moritz.

Each year, 500,000 people get a surgical site infection or SSI. Patients with an SSI remain in the hospital seven days longer and have a 60-percent increased risk of ending up in intensive care. They're also twice as likely to die.

Swapna is one of the first to use the sealant. There's no sign of infection for mom, so she can concentrate on keeping her family happy and healthy.

The sealant is approved for C-sections and naturally wears off within a couple of days.

Doctors say the sealant should not be used for surgeries that involve mucus membranes or the eyes.

RESEARCH SUMMARY
TOPIC: BLOCKING INFECTIONS, PROTECTING NEW MOMS

BACKGROUND: According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost 500,000 surgical site infections happen in the U.S. every year, making SSIs the second most common health care-associated infection. Compared with uninfected patients, those with SSIs remain hospitalized seven days longer, have a 60 percent increased probability of admittance to intensive care unites, are five times more likely to return to the hospital for continued care within 30 days of discharge and have double the mortality rate.

STOPPING SSI'S: The last thing a new mother needs to worry about after delivering a baby via cesarean section is a surgical site infection. Now some doctors are using a new sealant that acts as a microbial barrier to reduce the risk of surgical site contamination. The sealant works by forming protective barrier that seals and immobilizes areas where bacteria can grow. The barrier prevents bacteria from creeping into the incision and works like crazy glue. It's a fast-drying liquid that bonds to the skin and locks down bacteria that are deep within the skin and those that survived preoperative prepping.

In clinical trials, the sealant has been shown to seal and immobilize harmful pathogens including MRSA, S. epidermis and E. coli. The sealant is applied to the skin after surgery prep and before the incision is made. The sealant is non-irritating and does not need to be removed in order to close the incision. After surgery, the sealant wears off naturally within a few days. Doctors say the sealant should not be used in surgical procedures involving mucous membranes or the eyes, on patients with hypersensitivity or on skin with active signs of infections.

"There is no such thing as true sterilization of the skin," Jacques Moritz, M.D., Director of Gynecology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan told Ivanhoe. However, he says the sealant gives new moms an added layer of protection.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Elizabeth Dowling
Public Relations
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital
EDowling@chpnet.org