Table 1.
Summary of studies of empiric use of antibiotics for PTB prevention.
| Study | N | Antibiotic regimen | Gestational age at treatment(wks) | Days treatment | Primary outcomes | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta lactams | ||||||
| Newton et al. (1991) [41] | 91 | IV ampicillin/sulbactam + PO indomethacin | Less than 36 | 3 | (1) Gestational age at delivery (2) Number of term deliveries (3) Days gained |
No |
| Cox et al. (1995) [42] | 78 | IV ampicillin/sulbactam + PO amoxicillin-clavulanate | 24–34 | 7 | Mean gestational age at delivery | No |
| Gordon et al. (1995) [43] | 117 | IV ceftizoxime | 24–35 | 5 | Prolongation of gestation | No |
| Clindamycin | ||||||
| McGregor et al. (1991) [44] | 117 | IV and PO clindamycin | Less than 34 | 7 | Interval to delivery | Yes (35 versus 25 days latency, P = 0.02) |
| Lamont et al. (2003) [45] | 409 | 2% clindamycin cream(vaginal) | 13–20 | 3 | Incidence of preterm birth | Yes (4% versus 10% rate of PTB P < 0.03) |
| Kekki et al. (2001) [46] | 5432 | 2% clindamycin cream (vaginal) | 10–17 | 7 | (1) Rates of preterm delivery (2) Peripartum infection |
No |
| Azithromycin | ||||||
| Van de Broek et al. (2009) [47] | 2297 | PO azithromycin | 16–24 and 28–32 | 2 doses | Incidence of preterm birth | No |
| Combination regimens | ||||||
| Norman et al. (1994) [48] | 81 | IV ampicillin/PO amoxicillin + PO metronidazole | 26–34 | 5 | (1) Days gained (2) Perinatal mortality (3) Perinatal morbidity |
Yes (15 versus 2.5 days latency, P = 0.04) |
| Svare et al. (1997) [49] | 112 | IV ampicillin/PO pivampicin + PO metronidazole | 26–34 | 7 | (1) Days to delivery (2) Gestational age (GA) at delivery (3) Rates of preterm delivery (4) Low birth weight (5) Maternal infection (6) Neonatal infection |
Yes (1) (47.5 versus 27 days latency, P < 0.05) (2) (37 versus 34 weeks GA at delivery, P < 0.05) (3) (42% versus 65% preterm birth rate, P < 0.05) |
| Newton et al. (1989) [50] | 103 | IV Ampicillin/PO erythromycin | 24–35 | 7 | (1) Rate of preterm birth (2) Time to delivery (3) Birthweight (4) Episodes of recurrent preterm Labor |
No |
| Romero et al. (1993) [51] | 277 | IV Ampicillin/erythromycin + PO amoxicillin/erythromycin | 24–34 | 7 | (1) Time to delivery (2) Frequency of preterm delivery (3) Frequency of PROM (4) Maternal outcomes (5) Episodes of recurrent preterm labor |
No |
| Oracle II (2001) [52] | 6295 | PO erythromycin or PO amoxicillin-clavulanate or both | Less than 37 | 10 | Composite neonatal morbidity or mortality | No |