Postpartum Endometritis

Endometritis may develop after chorioamnionitis during labor or postpartum. Predisposing conditions include

• Prolonged rupture of the membranes

• Prolonged labor

• Multiple digital cervical examinations

• Chorioamnionitis

• Internal fetal or uterine monitoring

• Cesarean delivery

• Retention or manual removal of placental fragments in the uterus

• Postpartum hemorrhage

• Colonization of the lower genital tract by group B streptococci or Escherichia coli

• Bacterial vaginosis

• Diabetes

• Young maternal age

• Low socioeconomic status

Infection tends to be polymicrobial; the most common pathogens include the following:

• Gram-positive cocci (predominantly group B streptococci, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Enterococcus species)

• Anaerobes (predominantly peptostreptococci, Bacteroides species, and Prevotella species)

• Gram-negative bacteria (predominantly Gardnerella vaginalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis)

Infection may occur in the endometrium (endometritis), parametrium (parametritis), and/or myometrium (myometritis).

Uncommonly, peritonitis, pelvic abscess, pelvic thrombophlebitis (with risk of pulmonary embolism), or a combination develops. Rarely, septic shock and its sequelae, including death, occur. Group A streptococci or Clostridium species infections are associated with sepsis. Streptococcal or staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome may occur.

Typically, the first symptoms of postpartum endometritis are lower abdominal pain and uterine tenderness, followed by fever—most commonly within the first 24 to 72 hours postpartum. Chills, headache, malaise, and anorexia are common. Sometimes the only symptom is a low-grade fever.

Pallor, tachycardia, and leukocytosis usually occur, and the uterus is soft, large, and tender. Discharge may be decreased or profuse and malodorous, with or without blood. When parametria are affected, pain and fever are severe; the large, tender uterus is indurated at the base of the broad ligaments, extending to the pelvic walls or posterior cul-de-sac.

Pelvic abscess may manifest as a palpable mass separate from and adjacent to the uterus or fever and abdominal pain that persists despite standard antibiotic therapy.

• History and physical examination

• Usually tests to exclude other causes (eg, urinalysis and urine culture)

Diagnosis within 24 hours of delivery is based on clinical findings of pain, tenderness, and temperature > 38° C after delivery.

After the first 24 hours, postpartum endometritis is presumed present if no other cause is apparent in patients with temperature ≥ 38° C on 2 successive days. Other causes of fever and lower abdominal symptoms include urinary tract infections (UTIs), wound infection, septic pelvic thrombophlebitis, and perineal infection. Uterine tenderness is often difficult to distinguish from incisional tenderness in patients who have had a cesarean delivery.

Patients with low-grade fever and no abdominal pain are evaluated for other occult causes, such as atelectasis, breast engorgement, breast infection, UTI, and leg thrombophlebitis. Fever due to breast engorgement tends to remain ≤ 39° C. If temperature abruptly rises after 2 or 3 days of low-grade fever, the cause is probably an infection rather than breast engorgement.

Urinalysis and urine culture are usually done to exclude other causes.

Endometrial cultures are rarely indicated because specimens collected through the cervix are almost always contaminated by vaginal and cervical flora. Endometrial cultures should be done only when endometritis is refractory to routine antibiotic regimens and no other cause of infection is obvious; sterile technique with a speculum is used to avoid vaginal contamination, and the sample is sent for aerobic and anaerobic cultures.

Blood cultures are routinely indicated, but should be done when a patient is immunocompromised, endometritis is refractory to routine antibiotic regimens, or clinical findings suggest septicemia.

If despite adequate treatment of endometritis, fever persists for >

Treatment of postpartum endometritis is a broad-spectrum antibiotic regimen given IV until women are afebrile for 48 hours.

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Preventing or minimizing predisposing factors is essential. Vaginal delivery cannot be sterile, but aseptic techniques are used.

When delivery is cesarean, prophylactic antibiotics given within 60 minutes before surgery can reduce risk of endometritis by up to 75%.