Diagnosis of Postpartum Infections : clinical Criteria are Better than Laboratory Parameter

BACKGROUND: Physiologic increases in the leukocyte count and segmental neutrophil percentage during pregnancy alter the ability of these indices to predict infection. METHODS: Women with cesarean deliveries were assessed by leukocyte counts and segmented neutrophil percentage as well as clinical signs to detect postoperative infection. RESULTS: In 157 consecutive patients undergoing cesarean deliveries there was a significant physiologic increase between the preoperative and postoperative leukocyte count (12.4 +/- 3.9/uL vs. 14.8 +/- 3.4/uL, P <0.001). The leukocyte count after delivery did not discriminate whether or not the patient would develop a postpartum infection or have significant hyperpyrexia. CONCLUSION: Due to physiologic changes associated with pregnancy, the leukocyte count and segmented neutrophil percentage do not predict infection. Therefore clinical findings are most important in diagnosing postpartum infections.