title: Sepsis due to Clostridium perfringens after pregnancy termination with feticide by cordocentesis: a case report.
abstract: We report a case of sepsis due to Clostridium perfringens after termination of pregnancy at 22 weeks with feticide by cordocentesis. Three weeks earlier, the 41-year-old patient had undergone an amniocentesis and a full trisomy 13 karyotype had been discovered. Feticide was performed by injection of thiopental and potassium chloride after percutaneous umbilical foetal blood sampling through the same needle. The patient delivered vaginally with signs of chorioamnionitis and septicaemia. She recovered under broad-spectrum antibiotherapy. C. perfringens was present in maternal blood cultures, placental smears and foetal organs. We discuss the possible mechanisms of infection by C. perfringens, including inoculation of intestinal germs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Centre Hospitalier Robert-Ballanger, Aulnay-sous-Bois, France. svlkm@wanadoo.fr
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Li Kim Mui
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chitrit
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Boulanger
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maisonneuve
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Choudat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Bièvre
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000382:microbiology; D002882:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017218:Cordocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000382:microbiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D010920:Placenta / Q000382:microbiology; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013874:Thiopental / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014314:Trisomy
chemical_list: D011189:Potassium Chloride; D013874:Thiopental