Introduction & Objective: Meconium passage occurs in 10-20% of all deliveries and in as many as 40% of post-term pregnancies. Previous studies have shown an association between meconium and maternal infection, Also, in the presence of meconium, enhanced bacterial growth and inhibition of neutrophil bactericidal activities has been reported. This study was to determine the rate of post cesarean infectious morbidity in patients with meconium–stained amniotic fluid compared to controls with a cross-sectional study design.

Materials & Methods: We compare 95 pregnant women with meconium-stained amniotic fluid to 95 pregnant women without meconium-stained amniotic fluid for the development infections. Patients underwent cesarean section. Exclusion criteria were multiple pregnancy, infection prior to labor or antibiotic use within the 7 days prior to delivery, gestational diabet and history of diabet. Demographic variables, labor characterizes I, maternal infectious morbidity were analyzed using chi–square test. Meconium was assessed clinically as thin, moderate, or thick. Endometritis and other complications after delivery were diagnosed by standard definitions.

Results: During the study period, 190 patients met inclusion criteria and were enrolled. Patients' demographics, labor and delivery characteristics include: duration of ruptured membranes, number of vaginal examinations and body mass index also duration of surgery, type of incision were similar between two groups (P>0.05) . The incidence of postpartum infection was also reduced (10.5% versus 6.4% P>0.05). Thick meconium had higher infection rates than clear amniotic fluid (8.4% versus 2.1%, P >0.05).

Conclusion: Prophylactic antibiotics reduced rates of post cesarean infections, but the incidence of infection in patients with meconium-stained amniotic fluid was high, although the difference was statistically non significant, it may be clinically important.