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Change gloves. Reduce SSIs.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) don’t just delay recovery - they steal life’s most precious moments.

Introduction

Every year, hundreds of thousands of patients in the UK deliver their babies by Caesarean section (C-section)¹, and every one of them is at risk of developing an SSI. Those who do may face longer hospital stays, painful recoveries, readmissions – and ultimately, missed moments with their loved ones.

What’s most surprising? One small change in surgical practice – simply changing gloves – can make a big difference.

Mölnlycke® commissioned a cost–effectiveness analysis, including a systematic literature review, to examine the clinical and economic impact of changing gloves after placenta delivery and before final closure in C-section². The results speak for themselves.

Birth rates

Over 500,000 births occurred in the UK in the year 2023-2024¹.
C-sections

More than 40%^§ of these births were by Caesarean section¹.
SSIs

Every patient undergoing
C-section is at risk of developing an SSI.

Improve patient outcomes

Simply changing gloves after placenta delivery and before final closure can reduce post-C-section SSIs by up to

59%^#,3

Reduce treatment costs

Over five years, implementing glove change protocols in C-section procedures could save the NHS:
£45.1

million²

Download the clinical summary

Narice et al clinical summary

Download here

Making it easy to make the change

With a Biogel® Indicator® System, simply change the overglove and safely continue with the procedure*.

Speak with our team

Find out how many patients you could save from SSIs, whilst driving down the cost of healthcare.

References

* As long as the underglove is not compromised.

§ Excludes deliveries where the method of delivery is unknown.

#A relative risk (RR) of 0.41 means a 59% lower risk of post-caesarean SSI (0.59 = 1 –0.41)

1. NHS England. NHS Maternity Statistics, England, 2023–24. Official Statistics. Leeds: NHS England; 2024.

2. Stanberry B, et al. Glove change during caesarean section: Impact on maternity service budgets and capacity (Abstract PP.0067). BJOG. 2025;132(Suppl 5):86,. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.18215.

3. Narice BF, et al. Impact of changing gloves during caesarean section on postoperative infective complications: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Acta Obstetriciaet Gynecologica Scandinavica. John Wiley & Sons, Inc; 2021.