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Previous Volume 353:2352-2360 December 1, 2005 Number 22 Next

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SUMMARY

Endometritis and toxic shock syndrome associated with Clostridium sordellii have previously been reported after childbirth and, in one case, after medical abortion. We describe four deaths due to endometritis and toxic shock syndrome associated with C. sordellii that occurred within one week after medically induced abortions. Clinical findings included tachycardia, hypotension, edema, hemoconcentration, profound leukocytosis, and absence of fever. These cases indicate the need for physician awareness of this syndrome and for further study of its association with medical abortion.

Source Information

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta (M.F., J.B., J.G., S.R., W.-J.S., S.R.Z.); the California Emerging Infections Program, Richmond (J.K.H.); the Alameda County Coroners Office (S.H.V.M.) and Health Department (A.I.), Oakland, Calif.; the Department of the Coroner (V.P., D.B.W.) and the Department of Health Services (D.E.D.), Los Angeles; and the Orange County Health Care Agency, Santa Clara, Calif. (M.C.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Fischer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, P.O. Box 2087, Mailstop P-02, Fort Collins, CO 80522, or at mfischer{at}cdc.gov.

Full Text of this Article

Related Letters:

Deaths from Clostridium sordellii after Medical Abortion
Baulieu E.-E., Sicard D., Zane S. B., Berg C. J., Fischer M., Reagan S., Zaki S. R.
Extract | Full Text | PDF  
N Engl J Med 2006; 354:1645-1647, Apr 13, 2006. Correspondence

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