A puerperal infection, or puerperal sepsis, is a condition that occurs when a new mom experiences an infection related to giving birth.Puerperal infections are the sixth-leading cause of death among new mothers, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Also known as childbed fever, puerperal fever is a condition that can develop into puerperal sepsis. This is a serious form of septicemia that is most often contracted after an abortion, miscarriage, or childbirth. Women who have cesarean births are at a higher risk of contracting puerperal sepsis or fever than those who deliver vaginally, however. When it develops into puerperal sepsis, however, the condition can lead to toxic shock syndrome, multi-organ failure, and death. Commonly, genital tract sepsis is the infection responsible for puerperal fever. sepsis. 1. the presence in the blood or other tissues of pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins. 2. septicemia. puerperal sepsis sepsis after childbirth, due to putrefactive matter absorbed from the birth canal; see also puerperal fever. If caught early, this condition can be treated with antibiotics. When it develops into puerperal sepsis, however, the condition can lead to toxic shock syndrome, multi-organ failure, and death. Commonly, genital tract sepsis is the infection responsible for puerperal fever. While a hospital is a place of healing, it is also a location where many different types of bacteria grow. After giving birth, women are more vulnerable to infections of the genital tract. Bacteria are opportunistic and thrive in warm, moist environments, like the genital and urinary tracts. Bacteria known to cause a puerperal infection include: Puerperal Fever is known to be caused by an infection of haemolytic streptococci (1). Haemolytic Streptococci are bacteria that produce active haemolysins causing a clear zone of hemolysis on a blood agar medium in the area of the colony (2). It is known that puerperal fever is an endogenous condition found in women who had recently given birth to a child either in a hospital setting, or with the aid of a midwife. However, this condition also has an exogenous factor as noted on the hands and smocks of doctors as well as midwifes (1). : an abnormal condition that results from infection of the placental site following delivery or abortion and is characterized in mild form by fever but in serious cases the infection may spread through the uterine wall or pass into the bloodstream —called also childbed fever, puerperal sepsis. ADVERTISEMENT.  Overview. This module begins with an explanation of the problem of puerperal sepsis. The content then covers the factors which contribute to the infection, how it can be identified and differentiated from other conditions, how it can be prevented and, if it does occur, how it can be managed. Fever, puerperal: Fever that lasts for more than 24 hours within the first 10 days after a woman has had a baby. Puerperal fever is due to an infection, most often of the placental site within the uterus. If the infection involves the bloodstream, it constitutes puerperal sepsis. Puerperal fever has gone by a number of different names including childbirth fever, childbed fever and postpartum fever. In Latin a puerpera is a woman in childbirth since puer means child and parere means to give birth.  A puerperal infection, or puerperal sepsis, is a condition that occurs when a new mom experiences an infection related to giving birth. Puerperal infections are the sixth-leading cause of death among new mothers, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). After giving birth, women are more vulnerable to infections of the genital tract. Bacteria are opportunistic and thrive in warm, moist environments, like the genital and urinary tracts. Bacteria known to cause a puerperal infection include: Answered by The Community. Making the world better, one answer at a time. Puerperal fever (from the Latin puer, child), also called childbed fever, can develop into puerperal sepsis, which is a serious form of septicaemia contracted by a woman during or shortly after childbirth, miscarriage or abortion. If untreated, it is life-threatening. 
http://www.wisegeekhealth.com/what-is-puerperal-fever.htm http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Puerperal+sepsis http://www.wisegeekhealth.com/what-is-puerperal-fever.htm http://www.healthline.com/health/puerperal-infection http://www.austincc.edu/microbio/2993p/sp.htm http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puerperal%20fever http://www.who.int/making_pregnancy_safer/documents/4_9241546662/en/ http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7921 http://www.healthline.com/health/puerperal-infection http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_puerperal_sepsis
what is puerperal sepsis