Incidence of maternal peripartum infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The study team searched eight databases for studies with data on frequency of maternal peripartum infection. Specific outcomes comprised chorioamnionitis in labour, puerperal endometritis, wound infection following caesarean section or perineal trauma, and sepsis occurring from onset of labour until 42 days postpartum. Extracted data included study characteristics; geographical location, "study extent" to reflect how nationally representative the study population might be, data collection methods, diagnostic methods, follow-up time and low-risk groups. These variables were used in meta-regression to explore their effect on incidence of infection.