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

HIV infection during pregnancy in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2021-2023

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the prevalence of HIV infection in pregnant women; analyze the gestational and maternal outcomes of women with HIV; and evaluate process indicators for the prevention of vertical transmission of HIV according to type of financing for hospital admission in the state of Rio de Janeiro (RJ).

METHODS

cross-sectional study with 1,923 women, conducted between 2021-2023. Interviews were carried out with women, and data was extracted from the pregnancy booklet and hospital records. The prevalence of HIV infection, gestational and maternal outcomes, and the adequacy of process indicators for the management of HIV infection were estimated with respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) according to the type of financing - public or private - for hospital admission for childbirth or abortion.

RESULTS

Coverage of prenatal care (PNC), HIV testing during PNC (one and two tests), and testing during hospital admission was 93.7, 79.7, 45.8, and 79.2%, respectively. The prevalence of HIV infection was estimated at 0.79% (95%CI 0.31-1.99). Only 40% of women with HIV had registered antiretroviral treatment and 26% had registered viral load tests in their pregnancy booklet. Women with public funding were more socially vulnerable and had less coverage of PNC and testing with two tests.

CONCLUSION

Missed opportunities were identified in the management of pregnant women with HIV in public and private services in RJ. The detection rate was higher than that of the Notifiable Diseases Information System and suggests underreporting of cases.

Factors associated with infection-related severe maternal outcomes in pregnant and recently pregnant women: A secondary analysis of the WHO global maternal sepsis study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to identify the risk factors for severe maternal outcomes (SMO) of women with suspected or confirmed infections using the data from the WHO global maternal sepsis study (GLOSS).

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis of the GLOSS cohort study, which involved pregnant or recently pregnant women with suspected or confirmed infection around 713 health facilities in 52 low- and middle-income countries, and high-income countries. A nested case-control study was conducted within the GLOSS cohort. Cases included infection-related maternal deaths or near misses, while controls represented non-SMO. Logistic mixed models, adjusting for country variations, were employed. Using univariate analysis, we calculated crude odds ratios (crude OR) and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Variables were identified with less than 16% missing data, and P values less than 0.20 were used to perform the multivariate logistic model multilevel.

RESULTS

A total of 2558 women were included in the analysis. As for the cases, 134 patients were found in the pregnant in labor or not in labor group and 246 patients in the postpartum or postabortion group. Pregnant women with prior childbirths faced a 64% increased risk of SMO. Ante- or intrapartum hemorrhage increased risk by 4.45 times, while trauma during pregnancy increased it by 4.81 times. Pre-existing medical conditions elevated risk five-fold, while hospital-acquired infections increased it by 53%. Secondary infections raised risk six-fold. Postpartum/postabortion women with prior childbirths had a 45% elevated risk, and pre-existing medical conditions raised it by 2.84 times. Hospital-acquired infections increased risk by 93%. Postpartum hemorrhage increased risk approximately five-fold, while abortion-related bleeding doubled it. Previous cesarean, abortion, and stillbirth also elevated risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Key risk factors for SMO include prior childbirths, hemorrhage, trauma, pre-existing conditions, and hospital-acquired or secondary infections. Implementing effective alert systems and targeted interventions is essential to mitigate these risks and improve maternal health outcomes, especially in resource-limited settings.

Maternal high-care and intensive care units in low- and middle-income countries

Despite notable advancements in minimizing maternal mortality during recent decades, a pronounced disparity persists between high-income nations and low-to middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in intensive and high-care for pregnant and postpartum individuals. This divergence is multifactorial and influenced by factors such as the availability and accessibility of community-based maternity healthcare services, the quality of preventive care, timeliness in accessing hospital or critical care, resource availability, and facilities equipped for advanced interventions. Complications from various conditions, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), unsafe abortions, puerperal sepsis, and, notably, the COVID-19 pandemic, intensify the complexity of these challenges. In confronting these challenges and deliberating on potential solutions, we hope to contribute to the ongoing discourse around maternal healthcare in LMICs, ultimately striving toward an equitable health landscape where every mother, regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status, has access to the care they require and deserve. The use of traditional and innovative methods to achieve adequate knowledge, appropriate skills, location of applicable resources, and strong leadership is essential. By implementing and enhancing these strategies, limited-resource settings can optimize the available resources to promptly recognize the severity of illness in obstetric individuals, ensuring timely and appropriate interventions for mothers and children. Additionally, strategies that could significantly improve the situation include increased investment in healthcare infrastructure, effective resource management, enhanced supply chain efficiency, and the development and use of low-cost, high-quality equipment. Through targeted investments, innovations, efficient resource management, and international cooperation, it is possible to ensure that every maternal high-care and ICU unit, regardless of geographical location or socioeconomic status, has access to high-quality critical care to provide life-saving care.

Obstetrics mortality and associated factors in intensive care unit of Addis Ababa public hospital in, 2020/21: A hospital based case control study

Background

In low-income nations like Ethiopia, the rate of obstetric death in intensive care units is significant. The indications of admission are Preeclampsia/Eclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, and puerperal sepsis but, patient outcomes subsequent to intensive care unit admission are sparse. The aim of this study is to assess factors associated with obstetrics mortality in Intensive Care unit.

Methods

A hospital based unmatched case control study was conducted on obstetrics patients admitted to Addis Ababa Public hospital's intensive care unit from October 2018 to November 2020. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was done; Odds Ratio and Confidence Interval (OR and 95% CI) were computed using SPSS version 26. P value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

Result

Obstetrics mortality in intensive care unit was high and accounts 27% from the total intensive care unit admission. Severe pre-eclampsia AOR: 6.33; 95% CI: 2.25–17.79, puerperal sepsis AOR: 4.51; 95% CI: 1.68–12.15, age ≥35 years AOR: 4.09; 95% CI: 1.42–11.77, absence of antenatal care: AOR: 3.74; 95% CI: 1.03–13.5, maternal coexisting diseases AOR: 5.2; 95% CI: 2.22–12.16, and severely decrease of consciousness at admission AOR: 3.78; 95% CI: 1.21–11.79 were significantly associated with obstetrics mortality in Addis Ababa Public Hospitals intensive care unit.

Conclusion

and Recommendation: Maternal age ≥35 years, loss of antenatal care, puerperal sepsis, severe pre-eclampsia, pre-existing medical comorbidities and severe decrease level of consciousness during ICU admission were the most significant factors associated with obstetrics mortality. It is recommended that all pregnant women should have antenatal care so that preeclampsia and maternal comorbidities will be early diagnosed and treated.

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Obstetrics mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) is high in low-income countries.

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The indications of admission are Preeclampsia/Eclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, and puerperal sepsis.

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Obstetrics mortality in intensive care unit was high and accounts 27% from the total intensive care unit admission.

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The aim of this study is to assess factors associated with obstetrics mortality in ICU.

Evidence of Antimicrobial Resistance from Maternity Units and Labor Rooms: A Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Study from Gujarat, India

The main objective of this study was to determine the microbial contamination and antimicrobial resistance pattern among isolated bacteria from the environment surfaces of maternity units and labor rooms of healthcare facilities in the Gujarat state of India. The cross-sectional study was conducted in ten healthcare facilities, where the microbiological swab samples were collected from various pre-decided environmental surfaces of the maternity and labor rooms as part of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) assessment. The swabs were analyzed by conventional microbiological culture methods to identify microorganisms, including antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The study provides an insight into the microbial contamination of the visibly clean areas, i.e., the maternity ward, labor room, and general wards of the healthcare facilities. The labor rooms were found to be highly contaminated in comparison to other selected sites. The microbiological findings revealed a predominance of Gram-negative bacteria, specifically Pseudomonas species. The antibiotic susceptibility testing indicates resistance against many commonly used antibiotics. This study produces an identified necessity for enhancing microbiological surveillance in labor rooms and maternity units. This study also highlights the importance of microbiological status along with the WASH status of healthcare facilities.

Impact of emerging virus pandemics on cause-specific maternal mortality time series: a population-based natural experiment using national vital statistics, Argentina 1980-2017

Background

Emerging pandemic viruses may have multiple deleterious effects on maternal health. This study examines the effects of a pandemic influenza virus on cause-specific maternal mortality time series, using Argentinian vital statistics.

Methods

We conducted a population-based natural experiment from national vital records of maternal deaths between 1980 and 2017. Joinpoint regression models were used to model time series of the maternal mortality ratio (MMR). The sensitivity of the registry to detect the effects of the pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza virus on cause-specific MMR was analysed using a panel of parallel interrupted time series (ITS).

Findings

Over this 38-year study, the MMR decreased by 58·6% (69·5 to 28·8 deaths/100,000 live births), transitioning from direct obstetric causes (67·0 to 21·1/100,000 live births; 68·4% decrease) to indirect causes (2·6 to 7·7/100,000 live births; 196·2% increase). The regression analysis showed an average reduction of -2·2%/year (95% CI: -2·9 to -1·4) with 2 join points in the total trend (1998 and 2009). Parallel ITS analyses revealed the pandemic H1N1 virus had an increasing effect on mortality from the respiratory system- and sepsis-related complications (level change 4·7 and 1·6/100,000 live births respectively), reversing after the outbreak. No effect was found on MMR from hypertensive disorders, haemorrhage, abortive outcomes, other direct obstetric causes, and indirect non-respiratory comorbidities.

Interpretation

The Argentinian maternal death registry appears sensitive to detect different effects of emerging infectious epidemics on maternal health. In a population-based natural experiment, pandemic H1N1 virus impacted maternal mortality almost exclusively from the respiratory system- and sepsis-related complications.

Funding

Supported by FISAR www.fisarchile.org.

Epidemiology of obstetric critical illness

Obstetric intensive care unit (ICU) admissions comprise only a small part of severe maternal morbidity. The incidence rate of both remains relatively unclear due to inconsistent definitions across publications, although this has begun to be addressed. There is a relative paucity of information regarding disease-specific survival following obstetric ICU admission, but outcomes are clearly related to the cause of admission and the quality of care. The ratio between maternal near-miss cases (many of whom are admitted to ICUs) and maternal death may provide insight into the preventability of death. Hemorrhage and pre-eclampsia constitute the leading causes of ICU admission and have relatively low mortality rates, perhaps demonstrating the impact of informed care in managing obstetric critical illness. Obstetric sepsis, heart disease and anesthesia complications should be the focus of future research. The incidence of obstetric sepsis has been increasing in the last decade, with mortality rates remaining relatively high. The incidence of obstetric heart disease is increasing and maternal complications have been attributed to fractionated care of mothers within this category. Anesthesia complications remain a predominant cause of maternal death and likely intensive care admission. Data are lacking regarding the relative proportion of cases per disease that remain treated outside the ICU; and the outcomes of various management strategies. The only study of the health status of survivors of obstetric ICU admission revealed that six months after hospital discharge, one in five women still had a poorer health-related quality of life than those of a reference age- and sex-matched cohort.

The golden hour of sepsis: An in-depth analysis of sepsis-related maternal mortality in middle-income country Suriname

Background

Sepsis was the main cause of maternal mortality in Suriname, a middle-income country. Objective of this study was to perform a qualitative analysis of the clinical and management aspects of sepsis-related maternal deaths with a focus on the ‘golden hour’ principle of antibiotic therapy.

Methods

A nationwide reproductive age mortality survey was performed from 2010 to 2014 to identify and audit all maternal deaths in Suriname. All sepsis-related deaths were reviewed by a local expert committee to assess socio-demographic characteristics, clinical aspects and substandard care.

Results

Of all 65 maternal deaths in Suriname 29 (45%) were sepsis-related. These women were mostly of low socio-economic class (n = 23, 82%), of Maroon ethnicity (n = 14, 48%) and most deaths occurred postpartum (n = 21, 72%). Underlying causes were pneumonia (n = 14, 48%), wound infections (n = 3, 10%) and endometritis (n = 3, 10%). Bacterial growth was detected in 10 (50%) of the 20 available blood cultures. None of the women with sepsis as underlying cause of death received antibiotic treatment within the first hour, although most women fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of sepsis upon admission. In 27 (93%) of the 29 women from which sufficient information was available, substandard care factors were identified: delay in monitoring in 16 (59%) women, in diagnosis in 17 (63%) and in treatment in 21 (78%).

Conclusion

In Suriname, a middle-income country, maternal mortality could be reduced by improving early recognition and timely diagnosis of sepsis, vital signs monitoring and immediate antibiotic infusion (within the golden hour).

Concepts, prevalence and characteristics of severe maternal morbidity and near miss in Brazil: a systematic review

Abstract Objectives: to analyze frequency, characteristics and causes of severe maternal morbidity (maternal near miss) in Brazil. Methods: a systematic review on quantitative studies about characteristics, causes, and associated factors on severe maternal morbidity (maternal near miss). The search was done through MEDLINE (maternal near miss or severe maternal morbidity and Brazil) and LILACS (maternal near miss, maternal morbidity). Data were extracted from methodological characteristics of the article, criteria for maternal morbidity and main results. Near miss ratios and indicators were described and estimated. Results: we identified 48 studies: 37 were on hospital based; six were based on health surveys and five were based on information systems. Different definitions were adopted. Maternal near miss ratio ranged from 2.4/1000 LB to 188.4/1000 LB, depending on the criteria and epidemiological scenario. The mortality rate for maternal near miss varied between 3.3% and 32.2%. Hypertensive diseases and hemorrhage were the most common morbidities, but indirect causes have been increasing. Flaws in the healthcare were associated to near miss and also sociodemographic factors (non-white skin color, adolescence/ age ≥ 35 years old, low schooling level). Conclusions: the frequency of maternal near miss in Brazil is high, with a profile of similar causes to maternal mortality. Inequities and delays in the healthcare were identified as association.

[Hospitalizations due to complications of pregnancy and maternal and perinatal outcomes in a cohort of pregnant women in the Brazilian Unified National Health System in São Paulo, Brazil]

Maternal morbidity, fetal mortality, and neonatal mortality are important indicators of maternal and child health. The study aimed to describe maternal and perinatal outcomes (low birth weight, prematurity, fetal and neonatal deaths, postpartum hospitalizations, and readmission of newborns) in a cohort of pregnant women whose deliveries were covered by the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, in the second semester of 2012. We obtained a retrospective cohort of 55,404 pregnant women with deterministic and probabilistic linkage of data from the Hospital Information System of the SUS (SIH/SUS), Information System on Live Births (SINASC), Mortality Information System (SIM), and National Registry of Health Establishments (CNES) databases. Hospitalizations due to obstetric complications occurred in 4.3% of the women. The most frequent diagnoses were infection, hypertensive disease of pregnancy, and diabetes. Hospitalizations prior to childbirth were more common in pregnant women 35 years or older and those with a history of multiple pregnancies and low schooling. Postpartum hospitalizations were three times greater and maternal mortality was nine times greater in pregnant women with a history of previous hospitalization due to obstetric complications. Adverse perinatal outcomes (fetal and neonatal mortality and low birth weight) were twice as frequent in infants of women with previous hospitalization when compared to those without. A similar pattern was seen in hospitalization of newborns soon after birth and in hospital readmission. Adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes were more frequent in pregnant women with a history of previous hospitalization.

Caesarean Delivery and Postpartum Maternal Mortality: A Population-Based Case Control Study in Brazil

BACKGROUND

Cesarean delivery rates continue to increase worldwide and reached 57% in Brazil in 2014. Although the safety of this surgery has improved in the last decades, this trend is a concern because it carries potential risks to women's health and may be a modifiable risk factor of maternal mortality. This paper aims to investigate the risk of postpartum maternal death directly associated with cesarean delivery in comparison to vaginal delivery in Brazil.

METHODS

This was a population-based case-control study performed in eight Brazilian states. To control for indication bias, deaths due to antenatal morbidity were excluded. We included 73 cases of postpartum maternal deaths from 2009-2012. Controls were selected from the Birth in Brazil Study, a 2011 nationwide survey including 9,221 postpartum women. We examined the association of cesarean section and postpartum maternal death by multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for confounders.

RESULTS

After controlling for indication bias and confounders, the risk of postpartum maternal death was almost three-fold higher with cesarean than vaginal delivery (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.63-5.06), mainly due to deaths from postpartum hemorrhage and complications of anesthesia.

CONCLUSION

Cesarean delivery is an independent risk factor of postpartum maternal death. Clinicians and patients should consider this fact in balancing the benefits and risks of the procedure.