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of the new WHO definition of maternal sepsis

      Source: Statement on maternal sepsis, WHO. © 2017 WHO

      The Third International Consensus (2016) definition of sepsis (SEPSIS‐3) for the whole adult population is that sepsis is a life‐threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection.

      Septic shock is a life‐threatening condition that is characterised by low blood pressure despite adequate fluid replacement, and organ dysfunction or failure. The Third International Consensus definition (SEPSIS‐3) of septic shock is persisting hypotension requiring vasopressors to maintain mean arterial pressure of 65 mmHg or more and having a serum lactate of greater than 2 mmol/l despite adequate volume resuscitation.

      Source: Plant LA, Pacheco LD, Louis JM. Sepsis during pregnancy and the puerperium. SMFM Consult Series No. 47: Am J Obstet Gynecol 2019; 220(4): B2–B10. © 2019 Elsevier

Organ system Clinical features
Central nervous system Altered mental status
Cardiovascular system dysfunction Hypotension from vasodilatation and third spacing; myocardial
Pulmonary system Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Gastrointestinal Paralytic Ileus
Hepatic system Hepatic failure or abnormal transaminases
Urinary system Oliguria or acute kidney injury
Haematological system Thrombocytopenia or disseminated intravascular coagulation
Endocrine system Adrenal dysfunction and increased insulin resistance

      Although people with sepsis may have an infection, fever is not always present. The signs and symptoms of sepsis can be non‐specific and can be missed if clinicians do not think ‘Could this be sepsis?’

      The key actions for the diagnosis and management of sepsis (Knight et al., 2014, 2017) are:

       Timely recognition

       Fast administration of antibiotics

       Quick involvement of experts – senior review is essential

       Pregnant women have increased susceptibility to some infectious diseases, e.g. Plasmodium falciparum and Listeria monoctogenes

       In advanced pregnancy there are immunological changes that decrease adaptive immunity such that increased severity of infection is seen where cell‐mediated immunity is important. Pregnant women are more severely affected by influenza virus, hepatitis E virus, herpes simplex virus and malaria parasites

       The physiological changes of pregnancy that reduce lung capacity and promote urinary stasis may promote more severe infection

      1 Pregnancy‐specific infections:ChorioamnionitisEndometritisLactational mastitisSite of perineal traumaSurgical site, e.g. caesarean

      2 Infections exacerbated by pregnancy, including:Urinary tract infectionInfluenzaListeriosisHepatitis EHerpes simplex virusMalaria

      3 Incidental infections, including:Lower respiratory tract infectionsAcute appendicitisAcute cholecystitisAcute pancreatitisNecrotising fasciitisTuberculosisSexually transmitted diseases

      Source: Turner MJ. Maternal sepsis is an evolving challenge. Int J Gynecol Obstet 2019: 146: 39–42. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons

      Once an infective agent enters the body it binds to the surface of immune cells such as macrophages and monocytes and initiates the immune and coagulation cascades. This involves the release of both pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines along with pro‐coagulant mediators which activate the extrinsic coagulation pathway and inhibit fibrinolysis. Infection becomes sepsis when the balance of pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory mechanisms tips towards pro‐inflammation.

      The pro‐inflammatory cytokines cause endothelial dysfunction and leaky capillaries resulting in vasodilatation and maldistribution of fluid. Activation of the extrinsic coagulation cascade and inhibition of fibrinolysis results in the formation of thrombi in the microcirculation. These thrombi then compromise organ perfusion, resulting in impaired delivery of oxygen to tissues and organs. If unchecked, this can lead to multiorgan failure and ultimately death.

      Clinical manifestations of haemodynamic alterations

      There is a decrease in arteriolar and venous tone. This causes venous pooling of blood and a drop in vascular resistance, resulting in hypotension. In the initial stages of sepsis, there is hypotension with reduced cardiac output and low filling pressures. With fluid resuscitation, cardiac output increases, resulting in a hyperdynamic circulation, but there is not much change in blood pressure owing to a reduced vascular resistance. There is an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, resulting in raised pulmonary arterial pressures. The changes in the vascular tone differ in different vascular beds, resulting in the maldistribution of blood volume and flow. There is evidence to suggest that the ability of tissues

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