International virtual confidential reviews of infection-related maternal deaths and near-miss in 11 low- and middle-income countries - case report series and suggested actions.

BACKGROUND: Obstetric infections are the third most common cause of maternal mortality, with the largest burden in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). We analyzed causes of infection-related maternal deaths and near-miss identified contributing factors and generated suggested actions for quality of care improvement. METHOD: An international, virtual confidential enquiry was conducted for maternal deaths and near-miss cases that occurred in 15 health facilities in 11 LMICs reporting at least one death within the GLOSS study. Facility medical records and local review committee documents containing information on maternal characteristics, timing and chain of events, case management, outcomes, and facility characteristics were summarized into a case report for each woman and reviewed by an international external review committee. Modifiable factors were identified and suggested actions were organized using the three delays framework. RESULTS: Thirteen infection-related maternal deaths and 19 near-miss cases were reviewed in 20 virtual meetings by an international external review committee. Of 151 modifiable factors identified during the review, delays in receiving care contributed to 71/85 modifiable factors in maternal deaths and 55/66 modifiable factors in near-miss cases. Delays in reaching a GLOSS facility contributed to 5/85 and 1/66 modifiable factors for maternal deaths and near-miss cases, respectively. Two modifiable factors in maternal deaths were related to delays in the decision to seek care compared to three modifiable factors in near-miss cases. Suboptimal use of antibiotics, missing microbiological culture and other laboratory results, incorrect working diagnosis, and infrequent monitoring during admission were the main contributors to care delays among both maternal deaths and near-miss cases. Local facility audits were conducted for 2/13 maternal deaths and 0/19 near-miss cases. Based on the review findings, the external review committee recommended actions to improve the prevention and management of maternal infections. CONCLUSION: Prompt recognition and treatment of the infection remain critical addressable gaps in the provision of high-quality care to prevent and manage infection-related severe maternal outcomes in LMICs. Poor uptake of maternal death and near-miss reviews suggests missed learning opportunities by facility teams. Virtual platforms offer a feasible solution to improve routine adoption of confidential maternal death and near-miss reviews locally.

Coronavirus (COVID 19) Infection in Pregnancy.

Coronavirus illness 2019 (COVID-19) is an airways infection caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) which has been quickly disseminated all over the world, affecting to the general population including women in pregnancy time. As being a recent infection, the evidence that supports the best practices for the management of the infection during pregnancy is limited, and most of the questions have not been completely solved yet. This publication offers general guidelines focused on decision-making people, managers, and health's teams related to pregnant women attention and newborn babies during COVID-19 pandemic. Its purpose is to promote useful interventions to prevent new infections as well as prompt and adequate attention to avoid serious complications or deaths, trying to be adapted to the different contexts in which attention to expectant mothers is provided. Guidelines are set within a well-scientific evidence and available recommendations up to date.

La enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) es una infección de las vías respiratorias causada por un nuevo virus (SARS-CoV-2) que se ha diseminado rápidamente en el mundo, afectando a la población general, incluida la población de mujeres cursando un embarazo. Por ser una infección de aparición reciente, la información que soporta las mejores prácticas para el manejo de la infección durante la gestación es escasa y muchas de las preguntas no están completamente resueltas.Esta publicación brinda lineamientos generales orientados a tomadores de decisión, gerentes y equipos de salud en relación con el cuidado de mujeres gestantes y recién nacidos durante la pandemia por COVID 19. Su finalidad es promover intervenciones beneficiosas para prevenir nuevos contagios, y la atención oportuna y adecuada de la gestante para evitar complicaciones graves y/o muertes, adecuándose a los distintos contextos en los que se proporciona atención médica. Los lineamientos se enmarcan en la mejor información científica y las recomendaciones disponibles hasta la fecha.

Coronavirus (COVID 19) Infection in Pregnancy / Coronavirus (COVID 19) Infección en el embarazo

Abstract Coronavirus illness 2019 (COVID-19) is an airways infection caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) which has been quickly disseminated all over the world, affecting to the general population including women in pregnancy time. As being a recent infection, the evidence that supports the best practices for the management of the infection during pregnancy is limited, and most of the questions have not been completely solved yet. This publication offers general guidelines focused on decision-making people, managers, and health's teams related to pregnant women attention and newborn babies during COVID-19 pandemic. Its purpose is to promote useful interventions to prevent new infections as well as prompt and adequate attention to avoid serious complications or deaths, trying to be adapted to the different contexts in which attention to expectant mothers is provided. Guidelines are set within a well-scientific evidence and available recommendations up to date.

Resumen La enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) es una infección de las vías respiratorias causada por un nuevo virus (SARS-CoV-2) que se ha diseminado rápidamente en el mundo, afectando a la población general, incluida la población de mujeres cursando un embarazo. Por ser una infección de aparición reciente, la información que soporta las mejores prácticas para el manejo de la infección durante la gestación es escasa y muchas de las preguntas no están completamente resueltas. Esta publicación brinda lineamientos generales orientados a tomadores de decisión, gerentes y equipos de salud en relación con el cuidado de mujeres gestantes y recién nacidos durante la pandemia por COVID 19. Su finalidad es promover intervenciones beneficiosas para prevenir nuevos contagios, y la atención oportuna y adecuada de la gestante para evitar complicaciones graves y/o muertes, adecuándose a los distintos contextos en los que se proporciona atención médica. Los lineamientos se enmarcan en la mejor información científica y las recomendaciones disponibles hasta la fecha.

Extreme Maternal Morbidity: a tracer event to improve the quality of obstetric care in Latin America / Morbilidad Materna Extrema: evento trazador para mejorar la calidad de la atención obstétrica en América Latina

Abstract This article reviews critical aspects that have had an impact on the implementation of epidemiological surveillance of extreme maternal morbidity, as a tracer event of quality maternal care at population and institutional level; taking into account that maternal mortality has been usually monitored, and its analysis allows interventions to avoid maternal death. Until 2015, very few countries had been able to meet the goals established in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially MDG 5 - improving maternal health. As of today, it is observed that maternal mortality rate is quite heterogeneous, with rates from 1 case per 100,000 live births in developed countries, to more than 100 cases per 100,000 live births in developing countries. Therefore, complementary strategies such as surveillance of the extreme maternal morbidity could offer a more effective alternative to identify and implement interventions that allow us to prevent mortality and strengthen the quality of obstetric care. In addition, the importance of extreme maternal morbidity as a quality tracer event is that, unlike what is observed with maternal mortality, this is an event that occurs more frequently, is anticipatory of death, and the surviving pregnant woman is the primary source of information.

Resumen Este artículo revisa aspectos críticos que han tenido incidencia en la implementación de la vigilancia epidemiológica de la morbilidad materna extrema, como un evento trazador de calidad del cuidado materno a nivel poblacional e institucional, ya que usualmente se ha monitoreado la mortalidad materna y su análisis permite realizar intervenciones para evitar la muerte materna. Para el año 2015, muy pocos países lograron cumplir las metas establecidas en los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio (ODM), especialmente el ODM 5- mejorar la salud materna. Al día de hoy se observa que la tasa de mortalidad materna es bastante heterogénea con tasas desde 1 caso por 100,000 nacidos vivos en países desarrollados, hasta más de 100 casos por cada 100,000 nacidos vivos en países en vía de desarrollo. Por lo tanto, estrategias complementarias como la vigilancia de la mortalidad materna extrema podrían ofrecer una alternativa más eficaz para identificar e implementar intervenciones que nos permitan prevenir la mortalidad y fortalecer la calidad de atención obstétrica, a partir de información más confiable y sin esperar que ocurra una muerte materna.

Extreme Maternal Morbidity: a tracer event to improve the quality of obstetric care in Latin America.

This article reviews critical aspects that have had an impact on the implementation of epidemiological surveillance of extreme maternal morbidity, as a tracer event of quality maternal care at population and institutional level; taking into account that maternal mortality has been usually monitored, and its analysis allows interventions to avoid maternal death. Until 2015, very few countries had been able to meet the goals established in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially MDG 5 - improving maternal health. As of today, it is observed that maternal mortality rate is quite heterogeneous, with rates from 1 case per 100,000 live births in developed countries, to more than 100 cases per 100,000 live births in developing countries. Therefore, complementary strategies such as surveillance of the extreme maternal morbidity could offer a more effective alternative to identify and implement interventions that allow us to prevent mortality and strengthen the quality of obstetric care. In addition, the importance of extreme maternal morbidity as a quality tracer event is that, unlike what is observed with maternal mortality, this is an event that occurs more frequently, is anticipatory of death, and the surviving pregnant woman is the primary source of information.

Este artículo revisa aspectos críticos que han tenido incidencia en la implementación de la vigilancia epidemiológica de la morbilidad materna extrema, como un evento trazador de calidad del cuidado materno a nivel poblacional e institucional, ya que usualmente se ha monitoreado la mortalidad materna y su análisis permite realizar intervenciones para evitar la muerte materna. Para el año 2015, muy pocos países lograron cumplir las metas establecidas en los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio (ODM), especialmente el ODM 5- mejorar la salud materna. Al día de hoy se observa que la tasa de mortalidad materna es bastante heterogénea con tasas desde 1 caso por 100,000 nacidos vivos en países desarrollados, hasta más de 100 casos por cada 100,000 nacidos vivos en países en vía de desarrollo. Por lo tanto, estrategias complementarias como la vigilancia de la mortalidad materna extrema podrían ofrecer una alternativa más eficaz para identificar e implementar intervenciones que nos permitan prevenir la mortalidad y fortalecer la calidad de atención obstétrica, a partir de información más confiable y sin esperar que ocurra una muerte materna.