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Obstetrics & Gynecology 2005;106:1215-1217
© 2005 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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Right arrow Infectious disease

CASE REPORTS

An Unusual Cause of Sepsis During Pregnancy

Recognizing Infection With Chlamydophila Abortus

Gernot Walder, MD, MSc1, Helmut Hotzel, PhD2, Christoph Brezinka, MD3, Walter Gritsch, MD4, Robert Tauber, DVM5, Reinhard Würzner, MD, PhD1 and Franz Ploner, MD6

From the Departments of 1Hygiene and Social Medicine, 3Obstetrics, and 4Internal Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; 2Federal Research Centre for Viral Diseases of Animals, Jena, Germany; 5Regional Veterinary Service of Brixen, Brixen, Italy; and 6Department of Anesthesiology, Regional Hospital of Sterzing, Sterzing, Italy.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydophila abortus (formerly Chlamydia psittaci serovar 1) is a rare but severe cause of gestational septicemia, with particular problems in diagnosis and clinical management.

CASE: A 32-year-old woman in her fourth pregnancy (16th week of gestation) presented with progressive septicemia after extensive contact with abortive material from her goat flock. Treatment with levofloxacin could not prevent abortion. Multiorgan failure requiring catecholamines and artificial ventilation developed in the patient. After the agent was identified by polymerase chain reaction from acute-phase serum, macrolides were administered and yielded clinical improvement. The patient fully recovered. There were no sequelae in the subsequent 6 months.

CONCLUSION: Cp abortus must be considered in gestational septicemia after contact with ruminants. Polymerase chain reaction from acute-phase serum is a quick and easy way to establish the diagnosis. Macrolide antibiotics are still the treatment of choice.






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