Uterine pathology, illustration. A case of puerperal sepsis involving the uterus. This refers to postpartum infection of the uterine cavity by Streptococcus pyogenes. The bacteria invade and cause tissue inflammation and necrosis resembling endometritis. The mucous membrane shows folds and nodules with patches of necrotic tissues and all have arisen some weeks after childbirth. The os uteri shows several indentations and the vaginal mucous membrane is smooth. Infection was acquired from contamination at delivery. With antibiotic treatment the condition is rare in developed countries. From Bollinger, O. 1901 Atlas und Gundriss der Pathologischen Anatomie, vol 2. Lehmann, Munich.