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Obstetrics and gynaecology
Peritonitis following caesarean section in a low-resource setting
  1. Marthe Onrust1,2,
  2. Gabriel Mtaya3,
  3. Priscilla Phiri2 and
  4. Jennifer Riches1,2
  1. 1 Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
  2. 2 OBGYN, Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi
  3. 3 Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi
  1. Correspondence to Dr Marthe Onrust; marthe.r.onrust{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Maternal sepsis is the third-leading cause of maternal death worldwide, and caesarean section is an important risk factor for developing maternal infection. In this case, we present a patient with peritonitis following a caesarean section in a low-resource setting. Severe infections are familiar to medical staff in such settings; however, there is insufficient evidence regarding their incidence and optimal management. The case highlights the problem of limited access to microbiological testing and antibiotic availability, restricting management options. Furthermore, suboptimal quality of care in healthcare facilities and delays in presentation hamper early detection and efficient treatment of maternal infections. These issues must be addressed to reduce cases of maternal infection following caesarean section in low-resource settings, and subsequent maternal morbidity and mortality.

  • Global Health
  • Obstetrics and gynaecology
  • Pregnancy
  • Uterus
  • Infections

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2024-260497

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors The following authors were responsible for drafting the text, sourcing and editing of clinical images, investigation results, drawing original diagrams and algorithms, and critical revision for important intellectual content: MO, JR and PP. The following authors gave final approval of the manuscript: MO, GM and PP and JR. Guarantor is JR.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Disclaimer The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the UK government.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.