title: Early recognition of serious infections in obstetrics and gynecology.
abstract: Pelvic infections commonly occur in pregnant and postoperative women. Most of these infections are readily diagnosed because of their typical clinical manifestations and prompt antimicrobial therapy that leads to the resolution of disease. However, uncommon cases may escape detection and the severity of the process may also go unrecognized without a careful assessment of clues available through physical examination and laboratory testing. In some cases a particularly virulent pathogen can lead to severe infection, septic shock and its consequences, even death, despite clinicians acting appropriately.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA. soperde@musc.edu
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Soper
mesh_terms: D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D034161:Pelvic Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D010808:Physical Examination; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011645:Puerperal Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis