Infection in labor is not by itself a reason for a cesarean
A specific and frequently misapplied point.
Intraamniotic infection, often called chorioamnionitis, is diagnosed from fever plus signs such as rapid maternal or fetal heart rate, uterine tenderness or high white cell count. It is the most common infection-related diagnosis on labor units.
A comprehensive expert review states directly that clinical chorioamnionitis is associated with slower labor and postpartum hemorrhage, but that clinical chorioamnionitis by itself is not an indication for cesarean delivery.
The same review notes that some cases reflect systemic maternal inflammation caused by epidural analgesia rather than infection, which links back to the epidural fever topic above.
Where this comes from:
290. Jung E, Romero R, Suksai M, Gotsch F, Chaemsaithong P, Erez O, et al. Clinical chorioamnionitis at term: definition, pathogenesis, microbiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024;230(3S):S807-S840.
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