Antibiotic therapy for preterm premature rupture of membranes - results of a multicenter study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether primary application of mezlozillin in preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM) prolongs pregnancy and lowers neonatal morbidity.


METHODS
In this prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study a total of 105 pregnant women with pPROM between 24 + 0 and 32 + 6 weeks of gestation were examined receiving i.v. injections of corticoids and tocolytics as well as mezlocillin (3 x 2 g/d) or placebo. Assessed factors were prolongation of pregnancy and neonatal morbidity such as neonatal infection, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).


RESULTS
Prolongation of pregnancy by more than 7 days was achieved in 63.8% of the mezlocillin group versus 44.8% of the placebo group (P < 0.05). The babies of mothers treated with anibiotics had fewer neonatal infections, RDS, IVH and NEC. Total morbidity was significantly lowered in the verum group (P = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Antibiotic administration following preterm premature rupture of membranes is associated with a prolongation of pregnancy and a reduction of neonatal infectious morbidity.
August Fuhr
Norbert
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charite Berlin, Germany. norbertaugust.fuhr@charite.de
Becker
Christian
C
van Baalen
Andreas
A
Bauer
Karl
K
Hopp
Hartmut
H
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008802:Mezlocillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008802:Mezlocillin