Obstetric emergencies: maternal sepsis: practice question

A OBG question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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OBG · Obstetric emergencies: maternal sepsis

Sample item

A postpartum woman has fever, tachycardia, hypotension and foul-smelling lochia. What is the key time target for antibiotics?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Within one hour of recognising sepsis

Maternal sepsis is a medical emergency. IV broad-spectrum antibiotics (for example piperacillin-tazobactam or a combination covering streptococci, gram-negatives and anaerobes) should be given within one hour, along with fluids, cultures and source control.

Option by option

  • A. Within one hour of recognising sepsis (correct)

    Correct. The target is within one hour.

  • B. After culture results

    Waiting for cultures delays treatment.

  • C. Within 6 hours

    6 hours increases mortality.

  • D. Within 24 hours

    24 hours is far too late.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is A, Within one hour of recognising sepsis. Maternal sepsis is a medical emergency.

Why is "After culture results" not the answer?

Waiting for cultures delays treatment.

Why is "Within 6 hours" not the answer?

6 hours increases mortality.

Why is "Within 24 hours" not the answer?

24 hours is far too late.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Obstetric emergencies: maternal sepsis in OBG. IV broad-spectrum antibiotics (for example piperacillin-tazobactam or a combination covering streptococci, gram-negatives and anaerobes) should be given within one hour, along with fluids, cultures and source control.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Obstetric emergencies: maternal sepsis?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.