septic abortion [Gk, septikos, putrid] , spontaneous or induced termination of a pregnancy in which the mother’s life may be threatened because of the invasion of germs into the endometrium, myometrium, and beyond. The woman requires immediate and intensive care, massive antibiotic therapy, evacuation of the uterus, and often emergency hysterectomy to prevent death from overwhelming infection and septic shock. Compare infected abortion. See also illegal abortion, induced abortion.
