Intra-amniotic infection — chorioamnionitis 🚨 🤰
🧠 Clinical mechanism: Ascending infection of the membranes/amniotic cavity can progress to maternal sepsis and neonatal infection.
🔎 Recognise
- Fever, maternal or fetal tachycardia, uterine tenderness, malodorous fluid or sepsis physiology, especially after prolonged membrane rupture.
🛟 First assessment and action
- Escalate immediately to senior obstetric, anaesthetic and neonatal teams; perform maternal sepsis assessment and start trust-approved time-critical therapy when indicated.
🧪 Investigations and reassessment
- Clinical assessment, cultures where appropriate without delaying treatment, FBC/CRP/lactate as indicated and fetal surveillance.
⚠️ Pitfall / escalation
- Do not wait for a raised CRP or WCC to act; gestational physiology may mask early maternal deterioration. Timing of delivery is specialist-led.
UK reference: Primary NHS/NICE/RCOG/GMC source.
Editorial draft, 7 November 2026: targeted source-supported educational summary, NOT independent consultant/pharmacist verification or a treatment protocol. Follow up-to-date BNF, NICE and local NHS pathways.
Related: Sepsis in pregnancy or postpartum 🚨 🦠 · Sepsis source control — hidden focus 🚨 🦠