Maternal Sepsis, Part 2: Definitions, Risk Factors, & Characteristics

Course overview

Sepsis is the third leading cause of pregnancy-related death accounting for 23% of maternal deaths in the United States. To promote early recognition and rapid treatment, multiple professional organizations have provided screening and diagnostic criteria, and treatment recommendations. This series provides a review of professional recommendations and other evidence-based sources to include: definitions, screening criteria, diagnostic criteria, source targeted treatment, and ongoing assessment recommendations. This second activity in a series of six discusses the definition of sepsis related to pregnancy, risk factors, and characteristics to be aware of throughout pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum.