What is a leading cause of hospital readmission in the postpartum period?

Puerperal infection is recognized as a leading cause of hospital readmission in the postpartum period. This condition refers to infections that occur in the mother after childbirth, typically affecting the reproductive tract. The risk for such infections can increase due to various factors, including prolonged labor, the presence of internal monitoring devices during delivery, or emergency cesarean sections.

Postpartum infections can present with symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, and foul-smelling discharge, which may lead to complications requiring further medical intervention or hospitalization. This stands in contrast to other conditions like hemorrhage, dehydration, or thrombocytopenia, although they pose significant health risks, they do not have the same prevalence as puerperal infections in contributing to readmissions. This underscores the importance of monitoring and managing signs of potential infection following childbirth to reduce readmission rates.