puerperal fever

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. a systemic bacterial infection of the endometrium characterized by fever, rapid heartbeat, uterine tenderness, and malodorous discharge, chiefly occurring in women after childbirth, usually as the result of unsterile obstetric procedures.

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puerperal fever British  

noun

1. a serious, formerly widespread, form of blood poisoning caused by infection contracted during childbirth

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Etymology

Origin of puerperal fever

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Semmelweis, once described as a “savior of mothers,” discovered that cases of puerperal fever could be significantly cut by washing hands before surgery.

From New York Times • Jul. 25, 2018

Tolstoy’s wife Sofia almost died when she contracted puerperal fever after her fifth delivery, but he impregnated her again and again.

From Slate • Apr. 28, 2016

If women were not rendered barren by the bacterium, there were always the risks of childbirth and puerperal fever.

From Time Magazine Archive

In 1935, after trying 1,161 sulfonamide compounds, Dr. Fourneau finally found the formula which conquered the streptococci of puerperal fever and meningitis.

From Time Magazine Archive

There was, however, nothing in our investigations to invalidate any direct testimony which tends to show that, in individual cases, a real connection between puerperal fever and the zymotic diseases may exist.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various