Postpartum haemorrhage and emergencies: septic abortion: 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 · Postpartum haemorrhage and emergencies: septic abortion

Sample item

After an unsafe abortion a woman has fever, jaundice, haemoglobinuria and acute renal failure. Which organism is classically responsible?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Clostridium perfringens

Clostridium perfringens produces a lecithinase that causes massive intravascular haemolysis with renal failure. Treatment is broad-spectrum antibiotics, surgical evacuation and often hysterectomy.

Option by option

  • A. Group B streptococcus

    Group B streptococcus is a cause of neonatal sepsis.

  • B. Clostridium perfringens (correct)

    Correct. Its toxin lyses red cells.

  • C. Staphylococcus epidermidis

    Staphylococcus epidermidis is a skin commensal and is not the typical cause.

  • D. Escherichia coli

    E. coli causes septic shock but not typical massive haemolysis.

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 B, Clostridium perfringens. Clostridium perfringens produces a lecithinase that causes massive intravascular haemolysis with renal failure.

Why is "Group B streptococcus" not the answer?

Group B streptococcus is a cause of neonatal sepsis.

Why is "Staphylococcus epidermidis" not the answer?

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a skin commensal and is not the typical cause.

Why is "Escherichia coli" not the answer?

E. coli causes septic shock but not typical massive haemolysis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Postpartum haemorrhage and emergencies: septic abortion in OBG. Treatment is broad-spectrum antibiotics, surgical evacuation and often hysterectomy.

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 Postpartum haemorrhage and emergencies: septic abortion?

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.