Puerperal Fever (Noun)
Meaning
Serious form of septicemia contracted by a woman during childbirth or abortion (usually attributable to unsanitary conditions); formerly widespread but now uncommon.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Puerperal fever was a major cause of maternal mortality in the 19th century, particularly in hospitals where doctors often went from patient to patient without washing their hands.
- The puerperal fever that swept through the maternity ward was a stark reminder of the importance of proper sanitation and hygiene in medical settings.
- In the early 20th century, the introduction of antibiotics and improved hospital hygiene practices led to a significant decline in cases of puerperal fever.
- Ignaz Semmelweis's pioneering work on the prevention of puerperal fever through hand washing and other sanitary measures was initially met with resistance from the medical community.
- Before the discovery of the bacterial cause of puerperal fever, many doctors believed that the disease was caused by "bad air" or other environmental factors.