gynecology and obstetrics
Postpartum Endometritis
Introduction
Postpartum endometritis is uterine infection, typically caused by bacteria ascending from the lower genital or gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms are uterine tenderness, abdominal or pelvic pain, fever, malaise, and sometimes discharge. Diagnosis is clinical, rarely aided by culture. Treatment is with broad-spectrum antibiotics (eg,clindamycinplusgentamicin). Incidence of postpartum endometritis is affected mainly by the mode of delivery: Vaginal deliveries: 1 to 3% Scheduled caesarean deliveries (done before labor starts): 5 to 15% Unscheduled caesarean deliveries (done after labor starts): 15 to 20% Patient characteristics also affect incidence. 