Puerperal fever

Puerperal fever, also known as postpartum

fever or puerperal infection
Definition: temperatures in the
postpartum fever reach 38.0 C or higher.
The fevers occur on any two of the first 10
days postpartum, exclusive of the first 24
hours.
Abortion or miscarriage isnt usually
associated with this infection and fever.

Types of Infections

Endometritis
Parametritis
Peritonitis
Pyelonephritis
Cystitis
Thrombophlebitis
Mastitis, abcess

Predisposing Factors
Antenatal factors
poor nutrition
low SES
Hx of Infections
Anemia
Immunodeficiency

Intrapartum
predisposing factors

Prolonged labor
PROM
Poor aseptic technique
Birth trauma
Multiple exams
Internal monitoring
Episiotomy
C section

Postpartum Predisposing
Factors
Manual removal of placenta
Hemorrhage
Retained secundines

Endometritis
Infection of the endometrium
placental site
decidua
cervix
Symptoms--discharge (scant to
profuse), bloody, foul smelling
uterine tenderness
jagged, irregular temp elevations
tachycardia, chills, subinvolution

Salpingitis, Oopheritis
May be caused by gonorrhea,
chlamidia
unilateral or bilateral abd pain
chills, fever
mass
tachycardia
may lead to sterility

Peritonitis
Life threatening infection of the
peritoneum
Abcesses on the uterine
ligaments, in the cul de sac,
and/or in the subdiaphragmatic
space
May result from pelvic
thrombophlebitis