Serious infection associated with induced abortion in the United States.

Angela Dempsey

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA. dempsear@musc.edu

Clinical obstetrics and gynecology 2012 Dec

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Though serious infection after induced abortion is rare, infections account for one third of abortion-related deaths in the United States. Most fatal cases of infection after induced medical abortion have involved clostridial species. These reported cases share important clinical features that may guide clinicians to earlier recognition and institution of therapy. This article reviews our current knowledge regarding serious clostridial infections postabortion including the typical clinical presentation, pathophysiology, modes of diagnosis, and available treatment.