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
Croydon 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
This page requires JavaScript
171
REPORT OF THE PUERPERAL ISOLATION WARDS,
62 cases were treated in isolation for puerperal infection, 28
of them in the Borough Hospital Puerperal Infection Unit and
34 in Isolation Wards at Mayday Hospital. There were 2 deaths
(3.2 per cent.).
Table XIV. SOURCES OF THE CASES.
| From Mayday Hospital— | Cases. | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|
| " Booked " cases | 10 | 30 | 1 |
| " Emergency " cases | 20 | ||
| From St. Mary's Malternity Hospital | 22 | 0 | |
| From other hospitals | 0 | 0 | |
| From private doctors, deliveries in nursing homes | 10 | 1 | |
| From private doctors, deliveries at home | |||
| 49 cases followed Labour with 2 deaths (4 per cent.) | |||
| 13 cases followed Abortion with no deaths. | |||
The 61 cases treated may be classified as follows:—
| Cases | Deaths. | Mortality Rate. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) Patients with infection of the genital tract | 85 | 2 | 3% | |
| (a) Infection limited to uterus, vagina and perineum | 39 | 0 | 0% | |
| (b) Infection involving pelvic cellular tissues, ovaries, Fallopian tubes, pelvic peritoneum or veins | 11 | 0 | 0% | |
| (c) Infection of the birth canal spread beyond the pelvis (general peritonitis, septicaemia, etc.) | 5 | 2 | 40% | |
| (2) Patients with infective conditions not originating in the genital tract | 6 | 0 | 0% | |
| factors Bearing on Aetiology. | No. of cases with infection. (genital) | No. of cases with infection. (non-genital) | ||
| Uncomplicated labour | 12 | 4 | ||
| Long labour | 2 | 0 | ||
| Surgical induction of labour | 0 | 1 | ||
| Instrumental delivery | 10 | 0 | ||
| Spontaneous abortion | 0 | 0 | ||
| Evacuation of abortion | 13 | 0 | ||
| Manual removal of placenta | 3 | 0 | ||
| Excessive bleeding | 4 | 0 | ||
| Severe lacerations | 1 | 0 | ||
| Other interference | 2 | 1 | ||
| Caesarean Section | 8 | 0 | ||
The large proportion of cases drawn from deliveries in Mayday
Hospital is accounted for by 13 cases of septic abortion.