Managing Maternal Sepsis During and Following Pregnancy

Managing Maternal Sepsis During and Following Pregnancy Introduction

Maternal sepsis remains a leading cause of preventable maternal death worldwide. Its consequences can be devastating for both mother and baby. Sepsis occurs when the body’s response to infection triggers widespread inflammation and organ dysfunction. However, in pregnancy and the postpartum period, it presents unique clinical challenges. These include atypical presentations and the involvement of two patients. In addition, clinicians must make rapid, coordinated decisions across specialties. Each hour of delay increases mortality risk. Therefore, early recognition and swift action are critical for patient safety.

Healthcare professionals caring for women during pregnancy and postpartum must maintain up-to-date knowledge of maternal sepsis. Whether in community or hospital settings, they need to identify high-risk patients early. They must also recognise warning signs and start appropriate management promptly. Moreover, they should know when and how to escalate care. This includes decisions about the timing of birth and neonatal implications.

To support this practice, the Managing Maternal Sepsis During and Following Pregnancy programme delivers a comprehensive and guideline-aligned review. Specifically, it covers recognition and management across two focused modules. The programme addresses bacterial infection and viral influenza as key causes. It aligns fully with current NICE guidance.

Developed by: This programme was developed by NHS England, with content aligned to the most recent NICE guidance on maternal sepsis recognition and management, ensuring clinical accuracy and direct relevance to the real-world needs of professionals caring for women during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Who is This Managing Maternal Sepsis Course for?

• Midwives working in community and hospital settings who want to strengthen their ability to recognise and respond to the early signs of maternal sepsis across the antenatal and postnatal periods
• Obstetricians and obstetric trainees who are looking to consolidate their understanding of maternal sepsis management, including escalation thresholds and the decision-making around timing of birth
• Emergency department clinicians who seek structured guidance on identifying and initiating early management of sepsis in pregnant or postpartum patients presenting outside of maternity settings
• Neonatal healthcare professionals who want to develop awareness of the management considerations for babies born to mothers with maternal sepsis
• Critical care and intensive care staff who are looking to understand the specific clinical considerations relevant to pregnant or postpartum patients admitted with septic shock
• General practice and primary care clinicians who seek to improve their ability to recognise maternal sepsis risk and presentation in community settings and escalate appropriately

Features

• Delivered across two focused modules covering maternal sepsis caused by bacterial infection and sepsis arising from viral influenza with or without secondary bacterial infection
• Covers the full clinical pathway from risk identification and early recognition through to treatment initiation, escalation, and involvement of specialist teams including critical care and microbiology
• Includes guidance on the use of an Early Warning System modified specifically for obstetrics, supporting consistent and timely identification of deterioration in pregnancy and the postpartum period
• Addresses the specific considerations of maternal sepsis management, including when to consider birth in the context of maternal sepsis and neonatal management of affected babies
• Developed by NHS England and aligned to the most recent NICE guidance, ensuring content reflects current national standards for maternal sepsis care in both community and hospital environments

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