Puerperal infectious morbidity. A two year review

Two years' experience with infection on 2 obstetric services with a total delivery load of 6,436 patients is presented. Data were available from a prospective and retrospective system of surveillance. Dependence upon a standard temperature definition of morbidity does not seem justifiable in view of current practice patterns where potent systemic antibiotics are frequently used. A statistically significantly greater incidence of infection following cesarean section was seen on the indigent service as compared to the service with a more affluent patient population. There has been a change in the microbiological recovery of organisms from patients with postpartum endometritis with the gram negative aerobe E. coli, the most frequently recovered bacterial isolate. Other organisms frequently recovered include the peptostreptococcus, Streptococcus viridans, members of the bacteroides genus, the enterococcus, and the coagulase negative staphylococci.