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Septic Abortion

Septic Abortion: Pathogenesis, clinical findings, and complications ↓ Access to safe abortion ↓ Quality of surgical abortion procedure ↑ Risk of bacterial exposure Abortion (spontaneous or induced expulsion of a pregnancy) Retention of products of conception (placenta & fetus) Colonization of maternal intervillous space of the placenta by bacteria Release of bacterial toxins Septic Abortion Infection of products of conception of a previable pregnancy Antibiotics cannot reach the anaerobic environment Infection of the endometrium Infection of the peritoneum Dead tissue is isolated from blood supply Endometritis (inflammation of the endometrium) Pelvic pain Peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum) Abdominal pain Rebound tenderness Guarding Infection triggers an immune response ↑ Neutrophils at site of infection ↑ Proinflammatory cytokines in systemic circulation (chemical messengers responsible for immune cell signalling) Author: Gabrielle Wood Reviewers: Alua Kulenova Sheena Katigema* * MD at time of publication **See corresponding Calgary Guide slide Vaginal bleeding (non-menstrual) Toxins kill endothelial cells, weaken the cytoskeleton & break junctions Damage of vascular endothelium (inner lining of blood vessels) Disseminated intravascular coagulation** Toxins from Clostridium, group A streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus Excessive cytokine activation causes systemic damage ↑ White blood cell count Formation of pus from the accumulation of dead cells, liquefied tissue debris & bacteria Purulent discharge from the vagina Toxic Shock Syndrome Signal to ↑ temperature set point of hypothalamus Fever (>38°C) Sepsis & Septic Shock** Legend: Pathophysiology Mechanism Sign/Symptom/Lab Finding Complications Published Aug 2, 2026 on www.thecalgaryguide.com Creative Commons License