Am J Perinatol 2022; 39(06): 671-676
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1718876
Original Article

Antibiotic Timing in Previable Prelabor Rupture of Membranes Less Than 24 Weeks of Gestation

Rubymel J. Knupp
1   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Sarah Pederson
1   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Christina Blanchard
1   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
2   Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Jeff Szychowski
1   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
2   Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Deepa Etikala
1   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Rachel Sinkey
1   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Luisa Wetta
1   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
1   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
› Author Affiliations
Preview

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to compare neonatal and maternal outcomes between immediate and delayed prophylactic antibiotic administration after previable prelabor premature rupture of membranes (PROM) less than 24 weeks of gestation.

Study Design Retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies with PROM between 160/7 and 236/7 weeks of gestational age conducted at a single tertiary care referral center between June 2011 and December 2015. Patients with multiple gestations, fetal anomalies, those who elected augmentation, or with a contradiction to expectant management, such as suspected intra-amniotic infection or stillbirth, were excluded from the study. We compared pregnancy characteristics, maternal complications, and neonatal outcomes between women who received a course of antibiotics within 24 hours of PROM and women who received antibiotics after 24 hours of PROM. The primary outcome was neonatal survival to hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes included gestational age at delivery, time from PROM to delivery, neonatal birth weight, days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), composite adverse neonatal outcomes, and maternal morbidity.

Results Ninety-four women met inclusion criteria, 57 (61%) received antibiotics within 24 hours of PROM and 37 (39%) received antibiotics 24 hours after PROM. Baseline maternal characteristics were similar in both groups. The mean gestational age at PROM was similar between groups at 20.8 ± 2.3 weeks in the immediate antibiotics group and 20.6 ± 2.1 weeks in the delayed antibiotics group (p = 0.48). Compared with delayed antibiotic administration, immediate antibiotic administration was not associated with a significant difference in latency time from PROM to delivery, rate of stillbirth, days in an ICU, or adverse neonatal outcomes. Maternal outcomes also did not differ significantly between groups. Neonatal birth weight was lower in the immediate antibiotics group (p = 0.012).

Conclusion Our data suggest that there is no maternal or neonatal benefit to immediate administration of latency antibiotics compared with delayed administration.

Key Points

  • Adverse neonatal outcomes did not differ based on timing of latency antibiotics for previable PROM.

  • Maternal outcomes did not differ based on timing of latency antibiotics for previable PROM.

  • Neonatal birth weight was lower in infants that received immediate antibiotics after previable PROM.



Publication History

Received: 28 March 2020

Accepted: 16 September 2020

Article published online:
22 October 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA