A 30-year-old woman presents with a fever of 103.5°F, pale skin, and an altered mental status. She cries out and withdraws when you palpate her abdomen. Her husband reports that she had a cervical biopsy three days earlier, and has be "feeling sick" ever since. Vital signs are: blood pressure 88/60 mmHg, heart rate 110, and respirations 22. You suspect:

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The patient's symptoms are consistent with sepsis, which can occur after a cervical biopsy. The altered mental status, fever, and hypotension are all indicative of sepsis, and the pain upon palpation of the abdomen suggests that the infection may be localized to the reproductive organs. Endometritis is a common complication of cervical biopsy and can lead to sepsis if left untreated.

A 30-Year-Old Woman Presents with a Fever of 103