Sepsis due to Clostridium perfringens after Pregnancy Termination with Feticide by Cordocentesis: A Case Report
- 15 February 2002
- journal article
- case report
- Published by S. Karger AG in Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy
- Vol. 17 (2) , 124-126
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000048022
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.Keywords
This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- Fatal Sepsis due to Escherichia coli after Second-TrimesterAmniocentesisFetal Diagnosis and Therapy, 1998