Chaim et al reported risk factors for post-partum endometritis. The presence of one or of these risk factors can help to identify a patient who may require more aggressive management. The authors are from Soroka University and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel.
Outcome: post-partum endometritis
Criteria for post-partum endometritis:
(1) fever >= 38°C
(2) onset within 5 days after delivery
(3) one or more of the following: uterine tenderness, foul smelling lochia, leukocytosis (> 12,000 per µL)
(4) exclusion of other explanations for the fever
Risk factors for postpartum endometritis after a vaginal delivery:
(1) gestational age < 37 weeks
(2) severe pregnancy-induced hypertension
(3) fetal distress
(4) delivery using instruments
(5) perinatal mortality
(6) postpartum anemia
(7) Apgar score < 7 at 5 minutes
Risk factors for postpartum endometritis after a cesarean section:
(1) gestational age < 37 weeks
(2) no previous history of previous cesarean section (odds ratio with history 0.72)
(3) postpartum anemia
(4) Apgar score < 3 at 1 minute
