Antibiotic treatment in preterm labor and intact membranes: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial

Although an association between microbial invasion of amniotic cavity and preterm birth has been extensively demonstrated, there is conflicting evidence regarding the benefits of antibiotic therapy in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes. We attempted to assess the efficacy of amoxicillin and erythromycin on pregnancy outcome in those patients. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was designed and implemented. A total of 196 patients with singleton pregnancies and preterm labor with intact membranes (22–36 weeks) were randomly allocated to receive either antibiotics or placebo, plus adjunctive parenteral tocolysis, and 173 patients (antibiotics group n = 83 vs. placebo group n = 90) completed the treatment. The overall prevalence of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity was 5.2% (9/173). No significant difference between both groups was found in maternal outcomes, including duration of randomization-to-delivery interval, frequency of preterm delivery, and frequency of cli...