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1: Trop Doct. 1998 Apr;28(2):92-5.Links

Puerperal sepsis: a preventable post-partum complication.

Dare FO, Bako AU, Ezechi OC.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

Patients with puerperal sepsis following delivery at Ife State Hospital (ISH) of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) Ile-Ife over a 10-year period spanning January 1986 to December 1995 were reviewed. One hundred and forty-six patients were diagnosed as having puerperal sepsis and there were 8428 deliveries giving an incidence of 1.7%. The incidence was higher among the unbooked patients 71.2%. Predisposing factors were: anaemia in pregnancy, 69.2%; prolonged labour (labour lasting up to 12 h or more), 65.7%; frequent vaginal examinations in labour (more than five), 50.7%; premature rupture of membranes, 31.5%; and non-adherence to asepsis during delivery. The case mortality rate was 4.1%. Antenatal care and supervised hospital delivery should be encouraged in order to prevent or reduce this serious post-partum morbidity.

PIP: This study of 146 consecutive cases of postpartum genital tract sepsis was undertaken to determine the characteristics and outcome of patients with puerperal sepsis. Included in the study were patients with puerperal sepsis admitted into Ife State Hospital of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex in Nigeria during the period of January 1986 to December 1995. Findings revealed that 1.7% out of 8428 deliveries were diagnosed as having puerperal sepsis. The incidence was higher among unbooked patients (71.2%). Predisposing factors of puerperal sepsis include anemia in pregnancy; prolonged labor (labor lasting up to 12 hours or more); frequent vaginal examination during labor (more than 5 times); premature rupture of membranes; and nonadherence to asepsis during delivery. In addition, the mortality rate was 4.1%. Thus, antenatal care and supervised hospital delivery should be encouraged in order to prevent or reduce the seriousness of postpartum morbidity.

PMID: 9594677 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]