Fulminant Puerperal Sepsis caused by Hemolytic Group A Streptococci and Toxic Shock Syndrome – A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Introduction

Most physicians would consider puerperal sepsis, known colloquially as childbed fever, to be a relic of the past which has long since been overcome with the introduction of Semmelweisʼ hygiene measures in general practice. Puerperal fever does not feature in the ordinary experience of most people.

But puerperal sepsis caused by Group A Streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes) may take a highly dramatic course and can result in lifelong damage [1]. There are regular reports of such cases in the literature [2], [3], [4], [5].

We present a case of puerperal sepsis which occurred unusually early, describe its severe course and discuss the case in the light of the recent literature.

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