Antibiotic Prophlaxis for High-risk Laboring Women in Low Income Countries

Azithromycin With or Without Amoxicillin to Prevent Peripartum Infection and Sepsis in Laboring High-risk Women: 3-Arm RCT

This study, performed over a course of 3 years in 5 collaborating hospitals in Cameroon, Africa, will randomize 750 women in labor with prolonged rupture of membranes ≥ 8 hours or prolonged labor ≥ 18 hours to identical oral regimens of 1 gram of azithromycin, 1 gram of azithromycin+2 grams of amoxicillin or placebo. Women will be followed to ascertain maternal infectious outcomes and perinatal outcomes.

This 3-arm study is a large randomized clinical trial designed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness and safety of single dose oral azithromycin or combined azithromycin+amoxicillin compared to placebo for the prevention of peripartum infections and sepsis in laboring women. We have previously shown the effectiveness of azithromycin for extended spectrum antibiotic prophylaxis in addition to the standard cephalosporin alone for reduction of post-cesarean infections. In LICs, the fraction of maternal infection and sepsis from cesarean delivery is minimal. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate strategies aimed at reducing these morbidities in women who have vaginal births. There is an increased risk of infection in women who have prolonged labor or prolonged rupture of membranes. Drawing from our findings with azithromycin-based extended antibiotic prophylaxis for cesarean delivery, we propose to adapt the intervention and evaluate a single oral dose of azithromycin (with or without oral amoxicillin) to prevent maternal peripartum infection and sepsis. This study, performed over a course of 3 years in 5 collaborating hospitals in Cameroon, Africa, will randomize 750 women in labor with prolonged rupture of membranes ≥ 8 hours or prolonged labor ≥18 hours to 1 gram of oral azithromycin, 1 gram of azithromycin+2 grams of amoxicillin, compared to usual care (placebo). Women will be followed to ascertain maternal infectious outcomes and perinatal outcomes.

Patients in this arm will receive 1 gram oral azithromycin and 2 grams oral amoxicillin in a single dose.

This arm will consist of routine care at the clinical sites (which is usually no antibiotic). They will receive placebo (for azithromycin) and placebo (for amoxicillin)

Maternal peripartum infection including chorioamnionitis, endometritis, wound infection/abscess, sepsis, and death

Includes Hepatitis B, thyroid infection, vaginal infection, viral infection, leg cellulitis, unknown abdominal infection,malaria

Inclusion Criteria: Women ≥ 37 weeks' viable singleton or twin gestation in labor planning a vaginal delivery with Prolonged membrane rupture (≥8 hours) or Prolonged labor (≥18 hours). Exclusion Criteria: Clinical chorioamnionitis or any other active bacterial infection (e.g. pyelonephritis, pneumonia, abscess) at time of randomization: because standard antibiotic therapy for these conditions may confound trial intervention. Allergy to azithromycin or amoxicillin Plan for cesarean delivery prior to enrollment Fetal demise or major congenital anomaly: Major congenital anomalies may confound assessment of neonatal outcomes and every attempt will be made up front to exclude them from randomization. However, some unrecognized fetal anomalies may inevitably be randomized. These will not be excluded post-randomization from the primary (maternal outcome) analysis; they will be taken into consideration in the secondary analyses of neonatal outcomes.

Mangram AJ, Horan TC, Pearson ML, Silver LC, Jarvis WR. Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 1999. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Am J Infect Control. 1999 Apr;27(2):97-132; quiz 133-4; discussion 96.

ASHP Therapeutic Guidelines on Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Surgery. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 1999 Sep 15;56(18):1839-88. doi: 10.1093/ajhp/56.18.1839. No abstract available.

Tita ATN, Boggess K, Saade G. Adjunctive Azithromycin Prophylaxis for Cesarean Delivery. N Engl J Med. 2017 Jan 12;376(2):182. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1614626. No abstract available.

WHO. WHO recommendations for prevention and treatment of maternal peripartum infections. Sept 2015 http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/maternal_perinatal_health/peripartum-infections-guidelines/en/

Subramaniam A, Ye Y, Mbah R, Mbunwe DM, Pekwarake S, Bunwi EY, Fondzeyuf A, Ngong MG, Dionne-Odom J, Harper LM, Jauk VC, Carlo WA, Halle-Ekane G, Szychowski JM, Tih P, Tita AT. Single Dose of Oral Azithromycin With or Without Amoxicillin to Prevent Peripartum Infection in Laboring, High-Risk Women in Cameroon: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Nov 1;138(5):703-713. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004565.