Late puerperal sepsis, case report and literature review

Abstract

A case of extremely rare puerperal sepsis is presented in this paper. Postpartum infection is an entity given in between 0.1% and 10% of postpartum patients and has a mortality rate ranging from 2% to 11%. In this case report, a primigravida patient, age 19, presented hypogastric pain, emesis and fever five days after delivery. Postpartum endometritis and retained products of conception were diagnosed; uterine curettage was performed and antibiotic treatment was formulated with satisfactory outcome. The patient was discharged on the fourth day. The patient was readmitted 27 days after delivery with hypogastric persistent pain and fever, vomiting, hypotension and pulmonary dysfunction; gynecological examination showed findings consistent with salpingitis and a laparotomy was performed to confirm the diagnosis, finding salpingitis along with pelvic peritonitis. An intravenous antibiotic treatment, laparotomy and peritoneal washings were provided with satisfactory evolution. The literature on puerperal sepsis, myometritis and postpartum salpingitis is reviewed because, in order to improve morbidity and mortality, timely diagnosis and treatment are determining.

Keywords

• Salpingitis
• Peritonitis
• Puerperal Infection
• Postpartum Period