page_title: Historical mortality rates of puerperal fever
section_title: Monthly mortality rates for birthgiving women 1841–1849
hierarchical_section_title: Historical mortality rates of puerperal fever / Mortality rates at the Vienna General Hospital / Monthly mortality rates for birthgiving women 1841–1849
caption_attribution_description: English: Puerperal fever monthly mortality rates for birthgiving women at the First clinic at the Vienna General Hospital 1841-1849 reported by Semmelweis. He devised and instituted a chlorine handwashing policy by mid-May 1847. His employment was terminated March 20, 1849
context_page_description: Historically, puerperal fever was a devastating disease. It affected women within the first three days after childbirth and progressed rapidly, causing acute symptoms of severe abdominal pain, fever and debility.
  The most common infection causing puerperal fever is genital tract sepsis caused by contaminated medical equipment or unhygienic medical staff who contaminate the mother's genital tract during the delivery. Other types of infection that can lead to sepsis after childbirth include urinary tract infection, breast infection and respiratory tract infection. Puerperal fever is now rare in the West due to improved hygiene during delivery, and the few infections that do occur are usually treatable with antibiotics.
context_section_description: The table below shows monthly incidence rates from 1841–1849, Semmelweis' handwashing policy was implemented from June 1847 to February 1849.
caption: Puerperal fever monthly mortality rates at Vienna Maternity Institution 1841–1849.  Rates drop when implementing handwash
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