puerperal fever
Postpartum bacterial infection
Puerperal fever is a bacterial infection of the uterus following childbirth, once a leading cause of maternal death.
The infection typically enters through wounds in the birth canal.
In the 19th century, physician Ignaz Semmelweis discovered that handwashing dramatically reduced its incidence, though his findings were initially rejected.
Also called childbed fever.
After childbirth period
- childbirthInfant's emergence from womb
- deliveryConveyance of goods
- laborStrenuous effort; also childbirth
- midwifeChildbirth assistance professional
maternity · confinement · parturition · afterbirth · cesarean · episiotomy · doula · placenta
Cleaning palms with soap
- germ theoryDisease caused by microorganisms
- antisepticsAgents preventing microbial growth
- 19th centuryThe eighteen hundreds
- medical historyRecord of past ailments
Dangerous inflammatory infection response
- endometritisInflammation inside the womb
- streptococcusSpherical bacteria in chains
- peritonitisAbdominal lining inflammation
- bacteremiaPathogens present in bloodstream
septicemia · pyrexia · inflammation · infection · febrile · purulence · abscess · staphylococcus
Absence of harmful microorganisms
- handwashingCleaning palms with soap
- antisepticMicrobe-killing substance
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- hygienePractices maintaining cleanliness
sanitation · chlorhexidine · infection control · gloves · disinfection · sterile technique · hand hygiene · penicillin
postpartum
After childbirth period
- childbirthInfant's emergence from womb
- deliveryConveyance of goods
- laborStrenuous effort; also childbirth
midwife · maternity · confinement · parturition · afterbirth · cesarean · episiotomy · doula · placenta · obstetrics
handwashing
Cleaning palms with soap
- germ theoryDisease caused by microorganisms
- antisepticsAgents preventing microbial growth
- 19th centuryThe eighteen hundreds
medical history · mortality rates · hospital wards · autopsy
sepsis
Dangerous inflammatory infection response
- endometritisInflammation inside the womb
- streptococcusSpherical bacteria in chains
- peritonitisAbdominal lining inflammation
bacteremia · septicemia · pyrexia · inflammation · infection · febrile · purulence · abscess · staphylococcus
asepsis
Absence of harmful microorganisms
- handwashingCleaning palms with soap
- antisepticMicrobe-killing substance
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
hygiene · sanitation · chlorhexidine · infection control · gloves · disinfection · sterile technique · hand hygiene · penicillin · antimicrobial