Fetal sepsis: a cause of stillbirth. (12th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jaiman, Sunil; Romero, Roberto; Gotsch, Francesca; Gowrishankar, Swarnalata; Mohiuddin, Kashif; Gallo, Dahiana M.; Jung, Eunjung; Suksai, Manaphat; Fernandez, Evita
• Is Part Of: Journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine. Volume 35:Number 25(2022)
• Page Start: 9966
• Page End: 9970
• Publication Date: 2022-12-12
• Subjects: Bacteria -- chorioamnionitis -- fetal autopsy -- fetal cytokine storm -- fetal death -- fetal inflammatory response syndrome -- funisitis -- pathology -- placenta -- pregnancy; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Perinatology -- Periodicals; Infants (Newborn) -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neonatology -- Periodicals; 618.2
• DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2022.2079404
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1476-7058

Abstract

Abstract: Infection is considered a leading cause of fetal death, responsible for approximately 20% of cases. Such estimates are derived from the frequency of acute histological chorioamnionitis and funisitis in cases of fetal death rather than direct detection of microorganisms in the fetal compartment. We report a case of clinically unexplained fetal death at 38 weeks of gestation in an uncomplicated pregnancy resulting in delivery of an appropriate-for-gestational-age fetus. The mother did not have any clinical signs of infection. Overwhelming bacterial invasion in multiple fetal organs, including the heart, liver, spleen, and kidneys, was observed despite the lack of evidence of maternal clinical infection. The bacteria were visualized by using standard histologic techniques (e.g. H&E/ tissue Gram stain) highlighting the value of autopsy in determining the cause of death.