The role of infection and sepsis in the Brazilian Network for Surveillance of Severe Maternal Morbidity

Objective To identify the burden of severe infection within the Brazilian Network for Surveillance of Maternal Morbidity and factors associated with worse maternal outcomes. Methods This was a multicenter cross-sectional study involving 27 referral maternity hospitals in Brazil. WHOs standardized criteria for potentially life threatening conditions and maternal near miss were used to identify cases through prospective surveillance and the main cause of morbidity was identified as infection or other causes (hypertension hemorrhage or clinical/surgical). Complications due to infection were compared to complications due to the remaining causes of morbidity. Factors associated with a severe maternal outcome were accessed for the cases of infection. Results 502 (5.3%) cases of maternal morbidity were associated with severe infection vs. 9053 cases (94.7%) with other causes. Considering increased severity of cases infection was responsible for one-fourth of all maternal near miss (23.6%) and nearly half (46.4%) of maternal deaths with a maternal near miss to maternal death ratio three times (2.8:1) that of cases without infection (7.8:1) and a high mortality index (26.3%). Within cases of infection substandard care was present in over one half of the severe maternal outcome cases. Factors independently associated with worse maternal outcomes were HIV/AIDS hysterectomy prolonged hospitalization intensive care admission and delays in medical care. Conclusions Infection is an alarming cause of maternal morbidity and mortality and timely diagnosis and adequate management are key to improving outcomes during pregnancy. Delays should be addressed risk factors identified and specific protocols of surveillance and care developed for use during pregnancy.