BACKGROUND: To assess the effectiveness of a postdischarge surveillance system to reveal cases of postpartum infections that could be missed by the current in-hospital routine surveillance and to identify predictors of postpartum infections. METHODS: The prospective surveillance included obstetrics patients. The information recorded included sociodemographic characteristics, infection-predisposing conditions, documentation of extrinsic risk factors, variables related to pregnancy and delivery, and variables related to each patient's newborn. A telephone interview on Day 30 after hospital discharge was performed to retrieve information related to signs and symptoms of infection. RESULTS: One thousand seven hundred five patients agreed to participate for a response rate of 93%. One hundred forty-nine (8.9%) patients contacted by telephone reported at least 1 episode of infection within 30 days of discharge. There were 24 infections occurring during hospitalization, representing only 16.1% of all infections. There was an increased risk of postpartum infections in women with complications during labor, in those who had a caesarean delivery, and in those who reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated the need for implementing postdischarge surveillance programs for obstetrics patients that also identify infections following vaginal delivery. Postdischarge surveillance by telephone contact proved to be a feasible and effective method.
BACKGROUND: To assess the effectiveness of a postdischarge surveillance system to reveal cases of postpartum infections that could be missed by the current in-hospital routine surveillance and to identify predictors of postpartum infections. METHODS: The prospective surveillance included obstetrics patients. The information recorded included sociodemographic characteristics, infection-predisposing conditions, documentation of extrinsic risk factors, variables related to pregnancy and delivery, and variables related to each patient's newborn. A telephone interview on Day 30 after hospital discharge was performed to retrieve information related to signs and symptoms of infection. RESULTS: One thousand seven hundred five patients agreed to participate for a response rate of 93%. One hundred forty-nine (8.9%) patients contacted by telephone reported at least 1 episode of infection within 30 days of discharge. There were 24 infections occurring during hospitalization, representing only 16.1% of all infections. There was an increased risk of postpartum infections in women with complications during labor, in those who had a caesarean delivery, and in those who reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated the need for implementing postdischarge surveillance programs for obstetrics patients that also identify infections following vaginal delivery. Postdischarge surveillance by telephone contact proved to be a feasible and effective method.
Authors: Theoneste Nkurunziza; Wendy Williams; Fredrick Kateera; Robert Riviello; Anne Niyigena; Elizabeth Miranda; Laban Bikorimana; Jonathan Nkurunziza; Lotta Velin; Andrea S Goodman; Alex Matousek; Stefanie J Klug; Erick Gaju; Bethany L Hedt-Gauthier Journal: BMJ Glob Health Date: 2022-07
Authors: Susannah L Woodd; Abdunoor M Kabanywanyi; Andrea M Rehman; Oona M R Campbell; Asila Kagambo; Warda Martiasi; Louise M TinaDay; Alexander M Aiken; Wendy J Graham Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-07-01 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Susannah L Woodd; Ana Montoya; Maria Barreix; Li Pi; Clara Calvert; Andrea M Rehman; Doris Chou; Oona M R Campbell Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2019-12-10 Impact factor: 11.069