Getting With the Times: A Review of Peripartum Infections and Proposed Modernized Treatment Regimens

Zachary Pek; Emily Heil; Eleanor Wilson

doi:10.1093/ofid/ofac460

Getting With the Times: A Review of Peripartum Infections and Proposed Modernized Treatment Regimens

Open Forum Infect Dis. 2022 Sep 5;9(9):ofac460. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofac460. eCollection 2022 Sep.

Authors

Zachary Pek¹, Emily Heil², Eleanor Wilson¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
² Department of Pharmacy, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Abstract

This article provides a review of peripartum infections, including intra-amniotic infection, postpartum endometritis, and postabortal infections. We present a case of postabortal infection to frame the review. The microbiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of peripartum infections are reviewed, and a critical appraisal of the literature and available guidelines is provided. There is a focus on discussing optimal antimicrobial therapy for treating these infections.

Keywords: antibiotic therapy and stewardship; infections in pregnancy review; intraamniotic infection or chorioamnionitis; postabortal infection or septic abortion; postpartum endometritis.

Publication types

Review