Secondary analysis of the WOMAN trial to explore the risk of sepsis after invasive treatments for postpartum hemorrhage

Abstract

Objective: To examine the association between the use of invasive treatments for postpartum hemorrhage and the risk of sepsis and severe sepsis.

Methods: Secondary data analysis of the WOMAN randomized controlled trial, including 20 060 women with postpartum hemorrhage in 21 countries. Logistic regression with random effects was used.

Results: The cumulative incidence was 1.8% for sepsis and 0.5% for severe sepsis. All-cause mortality was 40.4% in women with severe sepsis versus 2.2% for women without. After adjusting for bleeding severity and other confounders, intrauterine tamponade, hysterectomy, and laparotomy increased the risk of sepsis (aOR 1.77 [95% CI 1.21-2.59], P=0.004; aOR 1.97 [95% CI 1.49-2.65], P<0.001; and aOR 6.63 [95% CI 4.29-10.24], P<0.001, respectively) and severe sepsis (aOR 2.60 [95% CI 1.47-4.59], P=0.002; aOR 1.97 [95% CI 0.83-2.46], P=0.033; and aOR 5.35 [95% CI 2.61-10.98], P<0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: In this secondary data analysis, certain invasive treatments for postpartum hemorrhage appear to increase the risk of sepsis. Further research is needed to confirm this finding and investigate the role of prophylactic antibiotics during these procedures. The harms and benefits of such interventions must be carefully weighed, both in treatment guidelines and during individual patient management.

Trial registration: ISRCTN76912190.

Keywords: Antibiotic prophylaxis; Brace sutures; Intrauterine tamponade; Maternal morbidity; Maternal mortality; Maternal sepsis; Peripartum infections; Postpartum hemorrhage.