London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
This page requires JavaScript
51
Laparotomy was performed in 6 cases, the 7th being a case with initial scarlet
fever, which developed bilateral empyema and succumbed following rib resection.
Extensive suppurative peritonitis found at post-mortem examination. (Hsemolytic
streptococci in cervix at onset).
There were 5 cases at term (all normal deliveries—vaginal examinations not
made in 2). Four had laparotomy and hsemolytic streptococci were isolated from
the peritoneal exudate. Hsemolytic streptococci were isolated from cervix in all 5.
Particulars of the 2 abortions are as follows
(i) Cervix and peritoneal exudate: B.coli.
(ii) Cervix : B. coli and non-hsemolytic streptococci. Blood : non-hæmolytic
streptococci. No culture from peritoneal exudate.
Analysis of 7 cases in which general peritonitis occurred:—
| Para. | Delivery. | Vag-inal exam. | Cervical swab. | Additional diagnosis. | Operation. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multipara | Normal | Made | Hæmolytic strep. | Septic endo- and perimetritis | Laparotomy Hæm. strep. |
| Multipara | Normal | Made | Hæmolytic strep. | Suppurative parotitis (terminal) | Laparotomy Hæm. strep. |
| Primipara. | Normal | Made | Hæmolytic strep. | Perineal and vaginal sepsis | Laparotomy Hæm. strep. |
| Primipara | Normal | — | Hæmolytic strep. | Scarlet fever Bilateral empyema. | Rib resection. |
| Multipara | Abortion | Made | B. coli | Pelvic abscess Pyelo-nephritis. | Laparotomy B. coli. |
| Multipara | Normal | Made | B. coli | Septicaemia (staph, albus) | Laparotomy Hsem. strep. |
| Multipara | Abortion Curetted before adm. | Made | B. coli and non-haem. strep. | Septicaemia (non-haemolytic strep.) Pelvic abscess. | Laparotomy (no culture). |
6—8. Septicemia.—8 cases (2 occurred plus general peritonitis, and 2 plus
pelvic peritonitis).
(a) Multiparse, 7. Normal delivery 5
Instrumental delivery 1
Abortion 1 (curetted before admission).
(b) Primiparse, 1. Instrumental delivery.
Blood culture was positive in 7 of the cases, sterile in the remaining one, a
clinical septicaemia with generalised septic arthritis.
Two cases recovered. In one pneumococci were cultured from the cervix,
blood stream and pus from a cellulitis of the elbow. In the other hsemolytic
streptococci were obtained from the cervix, blood stream and exudate from
laparotomy wound (drainage of pelvic peritonitis).
Organisms present in 7 positive blood cultures:—
Hsemolytic streptococci 3
Non-hsemolytic streptococci 1
B. coli 1
Pneumococcus 1
Staphylococcus 1
Total 7
The 4 cases classified in sections 7 and 8 are included in the above.