Post partum infections: A review for the non-OBGYN

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health Surveillance

Background:

• Puerperal infection epidemiology is poorly understood, often underestimated.
• Current surveillance systems primarily focus on acute care, limiting comprehensive data.
• Genital tract infections are the most common cause of persistent postpartum fever, diagnosed and treated empirically.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the epidemiology and clinical aspects of infections occurring in the postpartum period.
• To emphasize surgical site infections (SSIs) and endometritis as key areas of concern.
• To provide a concise overview of other postpartum infections like mastitis and UTIs.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on infections in the puerperium.
• Emphasis on clinical diagnosis and empirical antibiotic treatment for genital tract infections.
• Inclusion of data on SSIs, endometritis, septic thrombo-phlebitis, mastitis, and urinary tract infections.

Main Results:

• Genital tract infections are the primary source of persistent postpartum fever.
• Surgical site infections (SSIs) and endometritis are significant contributors to postpartum morbidity.
• Limited data exists on the true incidence and impact of these infections due to surveillance gaps.

Conclusions:

• Improved surveillance is crucial for understanding and managing postpartum infections.
• Clinical diagnosis and empirical treatment remain standard for common genital tract infections.
• Further research is needed to address the underestimation of puerperal infection epidemiology.