Complete the form below to speak to the Mölnlycke team about post-Caesarean section SSI prevention, evidence-based gloving practices, or how Biogel® surgical gloves can support your clinical team.
Reducing infection risk after Caesarean sections
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Caesarean sections now account for 45% of deliveries in England1 . As more mothers give birth via Caesarean section, ensuring safe recovery and reducing the risk of surgical site infections has never been more important.
Mölnlycke is supporting a national campaign calling for improved awareness of post-Caesarean section surgical site infections (SSIs) and the adoption of practical, evidence-based measures that can help support safer outcomes for mothers.
Join the conversation and learn why healthcare professionals, researchers and patient advocates are calling for greater awareness and consistency in post-Caesarean section SSI prevention.
Why this matters
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A Caesarean section is a major surgical procedure, and SSIs can affect much more than wound healing. They can affect a mother’s physical recovery, emotional wellbeing, ability to care for her baby, and early experience of motherhood.
A multicentre study in England found that 9.6% of women developed a post-surgical infection following a Caesarean section, with 0.6% readmitted to hospital for treatment2. Recent research conducted by Mölnlycke also highlights the need for clearer information for mothers and greater consistency in how infection prevention is supported across maternity services3.
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Key findings include:
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- 1 in 4 mothers surveyed said they were not clearly informed about infection risk before their Caesarean section³
- 80% of mothers who experienced a Caesarean section wound infection said it made caring for their baby more challenging³
- 61% said they missed important early moments with their baby due to infection³
In addition, clinical evidence shows that changing surgical gloves after placental delivery and before final closure can reduce SSI risk by 59%*,4
Clearer information, consistent protocols and evidence-based interventions could help support safer recovery for mothers after Caesarean sections.
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Supporting evidence-based practice with Biogel®
Biogel® surgical gloves are designed to support surgical teams with reliable protection, comfort and control during key procedural moments.
Clinical evidence supports changing surgical gloves after placental delivery and before final closure as part of Caesarean section procedures. Biogel® Indicator® gloves can help support this approach by enabling surgical teams to change the outer glove while maintaining the protection of the intact indicator underglove, helping to facilitate efficient glove changes without disrupting workflow.
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Want to learn more?
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References
* A relative risk (RR) of 0.41 means a 59% lower risk of post-caesarean SSI (0.59=1-0.41).
- The laboratory study compared breach indication for Biogel PI gloves to that of two competitor gloves.
- NHS England. NHS Maternity Statistics, England, 2024–25. Official Statistics. Leeds: NHS England; 2025.
- Wloch C, et al. Risk factors for surgical site infection following caesarean section in England: results from a multicentre cohort study. Vol. 119, BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc; 2012. p. 1324–33.
- UK Caesarean Section Surgical Site Infection Awareness and Experience Survey. Mölnlycke Health Care 2026. Data on file.
- Narice BF, et al. Impact of changing gloves during cesarean section on postoperative infective complications: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Vol. 100, Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. John Wiley & Sons, Inc; 2021. p. 1581–94.
- Dziak K. Detecting Surgical Glove Breaches: Evaluation of Double Glove Indicator System Performance Using an In Vitro Glove Perforation Method. Surgical Infections. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers; 2026. (DOI: 10.1177/10962964261430395)