Treatment of trichomoniasis in pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa does not appear to be associated with low birth weight or preterm birth.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether treatment of trichomoniasis increases the risk of prematurity.


METHODS
Sub-analysis of a randomised trial.


METHODS
We analysed data from HPTN trial of antenatal and intrapartum antibiotics to reduce chorioamnionitis-related perinatal HIV transmission.


METHODS
Pregnant women from four sites in Africa.


METHODS
Gestational age at the time of delivery or mean birth weight.


RESULTS
Of 2,428 women-infant pairs included, 428 (18%) had trichomoniasis at enrolment. There were no differences in infant age or birth weight between women with or without trichomoniasis. By randomisation group, there were no differences in gestational age at birth or birth weight. Of the 428 women diagnosed with trichomoniasis, 365 (83%) received antibiotics and 63 (15%) did not. In analysis of actual use of antibiotics, women with trichomoniasis who received no treatment were more likely to deliver a preterm infant when the symphysis-fundal height was used to estimate gestational age (36% v. 23%; p=0.03), but not when the Ballard score was used (16% v. 21%; p=0.41). There were no differences in mean birth weight between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa, most of whom were HIV-infected, neither trichomoniasis nor its treatment appears to influence the risk of preterm birth or a low-birth-weight infant.
Stringer
Elizabeth
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. eli@uab.edu
Read
Jennifer S
JS
Hoffman
Irving
I
Valentine
Megan
M
Aboud
Said
S
Goldenberg
Robert L
RL
D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis; D055815:Young Adult
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D004917:Erythromycin