Childbed fever

Streptococcus pylogenes, one of the bacteria causing childbed fever

Childbed fever is an bacterial infection of the female reproductive tract, which occurs after a woman has given birth or after a miscarriage. It is also known as postpartum infection, or puerperal fever. In the developed world, it affects about one to two percent of all births. It can develop into a life-threatening sepsis. Cesarean section is one of the risk factors. For this reason, all women undergoing a Cesarean section receive antibiotics.