Puerperal Fever With Haemophilus vaginalis Septicemia

A small gram-negative pleomorphic rod identified asHaemophilus vaginaliswas isolated simultaneously from the blood and the endometrium of an 18-year-old woman with puerperal fever 72 hours after rupture of the membranes and 30 hours after an uncomplicated cesarean section. This organism is fastidious in its growth requirements and slow growing; it can easily be missed in the laboratory.Haemophilus vaginalisis a controversial pathogen of low virulence and has been found mainly in vaginitis. It may be a causative organism of puerperal fever.