Antibiotic Considerations in the Treatment of Maternal Sepsis

Sepsis, a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, remains the third leading cause of maternal mortality globally. Pregnancy-associated physiological adaptations predispose pregnant individuals to infection, impair maternal response to infection, affect...

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Main Authors: Sarah E. White, R. Phillips Heine, Talla M. Widelock
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Antibiotics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/4/387
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author Sarah E. White
R. Phillips Heine
Talla M. Widelock
author_facet Sarah E. White
R. Phillips Heine
Talla M. Widelock
author_sort Sarah E. White
collection DOAJ
description Sepsis, a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, remains the third leading cause of maternal mortality globally. Pregnancy-associated physiological adaptations predispose pregnant individuals to infection, impair maternal response to infection, affect antibiotic pharmacokinetics and metabolism, and complicate diagnosing infections and sepsis. Therefore, it is tantamount that clinicians readily recognize maternal sepsis and understand antibiotic regimens and treatment principles to avoid adverse maternal outcomes. In this article, we present an overview of the diagnosis and management of maternal sepsis and the physiological changes in pregnancy that alter antibiotic pharmacokinetics. Common microorganisms implicated in maternal sepsis are discussed with an emphasis on <i>E. coli</i> and Group A <i>Streptococcus</i> due to their prevalence and morbidity in the pregnant population. Lastly, we provide an overview of commonly used antibiotics and dosage recommendations in the treatment of maternal infection and sepsis.
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spelling doaj-art-39f456f16d324747a7f7ea0548dd01232025-08-20T02:17:25ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822025-04-0114438710.3390/antibiotics14040387Antibiotic Considerations in the Treatment of Maternal SepsisSarah E. White0R. Phillips Heine1Talla M. Widelock2Department of Obstetrics Gynecology, Section of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USADepartment of Obstetrics Gynecology, Section of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USADepartment of Obstetrics Gynecology, Section of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USASepsis, a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, remains the third leading cause of maternal mortality globally. Pregnancy-associated physiological adaptations predispose pregnant individuals to infection, impair maternal response to infection, affect antibiotic pharmacokinetics and metabolism, and complicate diagnosing infections and sepsis. Therefore, it is tantamount that clinicians readily recognize maternal sepsis and understand antibiotic regimens and treatment principles to avoid adverse maternal outcomes. In this article, we present an overview of the diagnosis and management of maternal sepsis and the physiological changes in pregnancy that alter antibiotic pharmacokinetics. Common microorganisms implicated in maternal sepsis are discussed with an emphasis on <i>E. coli</i> and Group A <i>Streptococcus</i> due to their prevalence and morbidity in the pregnant population. Lastly, we provide an overview of commonly used antibiotics and dosage recommendations in the treatment of maternal infection and sepsis.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/4/387maternal sepsissepsispregnancy physiologyantibiotics
spellingShingle Sarah E. White
R. Phillips Heine
Talla M. Widelock
Antibiotic Considerations in the Treatment of Maternal Sepsis
Antibiotics
maternal sepsis
sepsis
pregnancy physiology
antibiotics
title Antibiotic Considerations in the Treatment of Maternal Sepsis
title_full Antibiotic Considerations in the Treatment of Maternal Sepsis
title_fullStr Antibiotic Considerations in the Treatment of Maternal Sepsis
title_full_unstemmed Antibiotic Considerations in the Treatment of Maternal Sepsis
title_short Antibiotic Considerations in the Treatment of Maternal Sepsis
title_sort antibiotic considerations in the treatment of maternal sepsis
topic maternal sepsis
sepsis
pregnancy physiology
antibiotics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/4/387
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AT tallamwidelock antibioticconsiderationsinthetreatmentofmaternalsepsis