Postpartum Infections Workup

  • Author: Andy W Wong, MD; Chief Editor: Pamela L Dyne, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 23, 2012
 

Laboratory Studies

Laboratory studies are directed at elucidating the severity of illness as well as the etiology of the infection. Mild cases of mastitis usually do not require laboratory investigation. Wound infections and infections of the genital tract makes it more difficult to ascertain the extent of involvement. Laboratory studies should include the following:

  • Complete blood count
  • Electrolytes
  • Blood cultures, if sepsis is suspected
  • Urinalysis, with cultures and sensitivity tests
  • Cervical or uterine cultures
  • Wound cultures, if appropriate
  • Lactate, if sepsis suspected
  • Coagulation studies, if pelvic thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or invasive treatment (eg, surgical procedure) is being considered
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Imaging Studies

  • Pelvic ultrasonography may be helpful in detecting retained products of conception, pelvic abscess, or infected hematoma.
  • Contrast-enhanced CT or MRI are useful in establishing the diagnosis of septic pelvic thrombosis.[10]
  • In some cases, a contrast-enhanced CT examination of the abdomen and pelvis may be helpful if concurrent concern is present for other non-pregnancy–related abdominal/pelvic sources of the infection (eg, appendicitis, colitis).
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Andy W Wong, MD  Resident Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit Receiving Hospital

Andy W Wong, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians and Emergency Medicine Residents Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Adam J Rosh, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Wayne State University School of Medicine

Adam J Rosh, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Assaad J Sayah, MD  Chief, Department of Emergency Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance

Assaad J Sayah, MD is a member of the following medical societies: National Association of EMS Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Mark Zwanger, MD, MBA  Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University

Mark Zwanger, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Pamela L Dyne, MD  Professor of Clinical Medicine/Emergency Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine; Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center

Pamela L Dyne, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors, Elicia S Kennedy, MD to the development and writing of this article.

References

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