Last June, a maternity in Ontario experienced a drama fortunately unusual. A woman who had just given birth was affected by a record infection and a multivisceral failure, who killed her in 4 days. How is it possible today?
Taking fever and pain after childbirth
According to the tragic history revealed by the Daily MailRavinder Kaur Sidhu, 40, and her husband Gurinder Sidhu, 35, were at the hospital for the birth of their son on June 19. A childbirth without any complications, if not a vaginal, sutured vaginal tear.
But in the aftermath of childbirth, the young mother was taken from pain in the pelvic region, a fever, tremors, and begins to vomit. Tests are done “But not those to determine if bacteria” accumulated in your blood “ insists the husband today. However, everything suggests an infection.
30 hours without antibiotics, then the ruthless sequence
According to the narrative of the grieving husband, despite signs, doctors have given antibiotics only 30 hours after discomfort symptoms. A fact for which he pursues the hospital in court
“They should have administered broad spectrum antibiotics while waiting for hemoculture”, he insists. “”But nothing was done in our case and all day was lost. “
Indeed, the team on site leans in the first place for pain due to childbirth, before thinking about infection. Too long a time during which it then attacks the uterus, then to the mother’s leg. On June 21, she underwent surgery to remove infected tissues from her leg because she developed necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh -eating disease. A few hours later, she was transported urgently for a hysterectomy. “”The medical teams discovered that its ovaries and its uterus were completely necrotic “”. Then followed a coronary puncture on June 22, which she does not survive. Ravinder Kaur Sidhu died in the early hours of June 23. An investigation is currently underway.
A victim of toxic shock syndrome
But what happened so that a birth turns to drama so quickly? Consulted on this case, Dr Olivier Multon, gynecologist-obstetrician, evokes an infection that we often forget. The one called before a puerperal fever. “It is actually a toxic shock syndrome, the same phenomenon as with a stamp worn for too long”.
The manager? Streptococcus has, a germ also present in angina, or scarlatin, but which can cause a serious infection, and produce formidable toxins, and necrosis in different organs in women who give birth.
“This streptococcus is particularly dangerous in women in two circumstances: in vaginal flora, where it can cause toxic shock syndrome. And at birth, if streptococcus A is in contact with the vagina. In this case, it can develop in the uterus, and evolve towards septicemia “.
Signs of a postpartum complication
Rare, the infection is then formidable. Several signs must be taken into account immediately.
- Already, there is painevokes the expert. “”Even if the postpartum period is a source of new sensations for the patient, very present and unusual pain in the uterus is often a signal “. Caregivers around must be able to distinguish what is normal and what is abnormal;
- Fever. Even if in this case, an emerging fever may be the sign of already started septicemia. “” “Anyway, a fever after a childbirth is never normal “;
- General discomfort. A patient who does not feel well is also a sign of alert.
In doubt, start antibiotic treatment
Unfortunately, the sometimes late signs are not always sufficient to stop the infection. “”If the infection has started to progress very intense, even antibiotic treatments cannot always save the patient, because toxin in itself is powerful enough to cause this famous multivisceral failure “ regret our expert.
Hence an antibiotic management at the slightest doubt, as a precaution.
“What you need to know about Streptococcus A: it is a germ which is easily transmitted, and which is often present in those around you, without doing damage. It is therefore crucial to report any angina or virus quickly to the doctor of pregnant women. Systematic hand washing before or after childbirth is also essential”.
In the case of a child, or a sick spouse, possibly carrying Streptococcus A, it is therefore advisable to have the person tested to know if he is carrying or not. To start there again, a quickly treatment of the pregnant woman.