Puerperal pyrexia: a review. Part I.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Puerperal pyrexia and sepsis are significant contributors to maternal morbidity and mortality globally.
• Postpartum infections often occur after hospital discharge, increasing risks in settings with limited postnatal follow-up.
• Common puerperal infections include endometritis, wound infections, mastitis, UTIs, and septic thrombophlebitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the background, incidence, risk factors, microbiology, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation of puerperal infections.
• To highlight the preventable nature of many predisposing factors for puerperal sepsis.
• To emphasize the role of aseptic techniques and antibiotics in reducing puerperal infection rates.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of puerperal infections, including incidence, risk factors, and causative agents.
• Discussion of infection transmission routes: nosocomial, exogenous, and endogenous.
• Analysis of predisposing factors such as home birth, socioeconomic status, parity, and obstetric interventions.

Main Results:

• Identified key risk factors: unhygienic home births, poor nutrition, prolonged labor, cesarean sections, and retained products of conception.
• Highlighted maternal complications: septicemia, shock, peritonitis, abscesses, and compromised fertility.
• Emphasized that nosocomial, exogenous, and endogenous infections all pose serious risks.

Conclusions:

• Puerperal sepsis is a major preventable cause of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide.
• Aseptic precautions, advanced diagnostics, and antibiotic therapy are critical in mitigating puerperal infections.
• Understanding risk factors and transmission pathways is essential for effective prevention and management strategies.