Maternal Sepsis

Claudia Nieuwoudt1, Sarah E White, R Phillips Heine

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Sepsis is the second leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality in the United States. Early recognition, treatment, and escalation of care for the obstetric patient affected by sepsis mitigate the risk of mortality and improve patient outcomes. In this article, we provide an overview of maternal sepsis and address topics of maternal pathophysiology, early warning signs, diagnostic criteria, early goal-directed therapy, and contemporary critical care practices. We also present an overview of common etiologies of maternal sepsis and suggested treatment approaches.

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