Semmelweis: the combat against puerperal fever.
Groups A and B streptococci are of great significance in the history of obstetrics. Group A streptococci were a great threat to the puerperium, especially in the 19th century, when homebirth was replaced by institutional birth in lying-in hospitals. The history of the rise and fall of puerperal fever is indeed a tragedy. Some people, like Semmelweis, who brought new and important evidence based findings were not believed by their fellow obstetricians, an attitude that spoiled thousands of innocent lives. Even today group A streptococci, though seldom, may be the cause of puerperal sepsis. Group B streptococci are widespread and may cause sepsis and important lifelong morbidity or mortality of the newborn. Obstetricians today try to establish cost-effective prophylactic measures during labor to prevent these neonatal infections.
Adriaanse
A H
AH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Pel
M
M
Bleker
O P
OP
D001317:Austria; D005260:Female; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011645:Puerperal Infection / Q000266:history* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000266:history* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes