Diagnostic methods to determine microbiology of postpartum endometritis in South Asia: laboratory methods protocol used in the Postpartum Sepsis Study: a prospective cohort study

Reprod Health. 2016 Feb 25:13:15. doi: 10.1186/s12978-016-0121-4.

Abstract

Background: The South Asian region has the second highest risk of maternal death in the world. To prevent maternal deaths due to sepsis and to decrease the maternal mortality ratio as per the World Health Organization Millenium Development Goals, a better understanding of the etiology of endometritis and related sepsis is required. We describe microbiological laboratory methods used in the maternal Postpartum Sepsis Study, which was conducted in Bangladesh and Pakistan, two populous countries in South Asia.

Methods/design: Postpartum maternal fever in the community was evaluated by a physician and blood and urine were collected for routine analysis and culture. If endometritis was suspected, an endometrial brush sample was collected in the hospital for aerobic and anaerobic culture and molecular detection of bacterial etiologic agents (previously identified and/or plausible).

Discussion: The results emanating from this study will provide microbiologic evidence of the etiology and susceptibility pattern of agents recovered from patients with postpartum fever in South Asia, data critical for the development of evidence-based algorithms for management of postpartum fever in the region.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Asymptomatic Infections*
  • Bacteriuria / blood
  • Bacteriuria / diagnosis
  • Bacteriuria / microbiology
  • Bacteriuria / urine
  • Bangladesh
  • Cohort Studies
  • Community Health Workers
  • Culturally Competent Care / ethnology
  • Developing Countries
  • Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests
  • Endometritis / blood
  • Endometritis / diagnosis*
  • Endometritis / microbiology
  • Endometritis / urine
  • Endometrium / microbiology
  • Female
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / classification
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / growth & development
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / classification
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / growth & development
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • House Calls
  • Humans
  • Molecular Typing
  • Pakistan
  • Postpartum Period
  • Prospective Studies
  • Puerperal Infection / blood
  • Puerperal Infection / diagnosis*
  • Puerperal Infection / microbiology
  • Puerperal Infection / urine
  • Reproductive Tract Infections / blood
  • Reproductive Tract Infections / diagnosis*
  • Reproductive Tract Infections / microbiology
  • Reproductive Tract Infections / urine
  • Sepsis / blood
  • Sepsis / diagnosis
  • Sepsis / microbiology
  • Sepsis / urine

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents