title: Puerperal sepsis and maternal mortality: what role can new technologies play?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify new and underutilized technologies to reduce maternal mortality related to puerperal sepsis in developing countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of current medical literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature indicates that infection-control protocols and evidence-based procedures--including prophylactic antibiotics for cesarean section or preterm rupture of membranes, and updated antibiotic regimens--should be widely adopted. Devices such as hand rubs, needle-disposal systems, and rapid microbiological diagnostic tests can improve compliance and efficiency. Operational research on promising developments like vaginal cleansing with antiseptics, vitamin A supplementation, and prophylactic antibiotics in high-risk women is needed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sepsis management continues to depend on good implementation of established technologies. Program-based approaches are required to improve uptake.
authors.affiliation: Dugald Baird Centre for Research on Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Scotland, UK. j.hussein@abdn.ac.uk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fortney
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science; D011247:Pregnancy; D011645:Puerperal Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000517:prevention & control*