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A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development
Published on: June 24, 2020
[Management of threatening preterm labor with intact membranes: indications for antibiotics]
1Service d'Obstétrique et Médecine Foetale, CHU de Nantes, Hôpital Mère-Enfant, 44093 Nantes, France. norbert.winer@chu-nantes.fr
Insights
Systematic antibiotic therapy is not recommended for preterm labor with intact membranes and no infection symptoms. While it may slightly prolong pregnancy and reduce maternal infection, it offers no neonatal benefits and may increase bacterial resistance.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neonatology
Context:
- Preterm labor with intact membranes is a common obstetric complication.
- The role of antibiotic therapy in managing preterm labor is debated.
- Antenatal infections can significantly impact maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Purpose:
- To analyze the benefits and disadvantages of systematic antibiotic therapy in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes.
- To evaluate the impact of antibiotic use on maternal and neonatal outcomes.
- To determine the efficacy of antibiotics in specific patient groups, including those with asymptomatic bacteriuria or positive vaginal colonization.
Summary:
- Systematic antibiotic prescription is not advised for preterm labor with intact membranes and no infection symptoms.
- Antibiotics show minimal benefit in prolonging pregnancy and reducing maternal infection, with no demonstrated advantage for neonatal outcomes.
- Increased bacterial drug resistance is a risk with antepartum chemoprophylaxis. Local treatments are not recommended. Antibiotics are recommended for asymptomatic bacteriuria, reducing prematurity and maternal infections.
Impact:
- Findings guide clinical practice regarding antibiotic use in preterm labor, potentially reducing unnecessary antibiotic exposure and associated risks.
- Highlights the importance of targeted antibiotic treatment for asymptomatic bacteriuria.
- Informs future research on optimizing antibiotic strategies to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in preterm labor.
Objective:
To analyse the benefits and disadvantages of systematic antibiotic therapy in patient presenting a preterm labor with intact membranes.
Methods:
We reviewed French and English reports on Medline using to the following key words: "antibiotic therapy and preterm labor, preterm labor, streptococcus B, vaginose, mycoplasma, antenatal infection".
Results:
The systematic prescription of antibiotics is not recommended for patients presenting preterm labor who have intact membranes and no symptoms of infection. The benefit of antibiotics is small and shows a tendency to prolong the pregnancy and the reduction of maternal infection. No benefit has been shown for neonatal results. When early-onset neonatal sepsis develops in a case in which antepartum chemoprophylaxis was used, the isolated bacteria will present an increasing risk of bacterial drug resistance. Local treatment (cream or pessary) do not belong in the treatment of threatening preterm labor and are not recommended for the prevention of prematurity or materno fetal infection. Risk groups of patients who present a positive vaginal colonization are subject to discussion. Studies do not allow us to ascertain that antibiotics have a beneficial effect on prematurity in these groups. Antibiotics are recommended for the treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria. This treatment reduces prematurity and maternal infections. Despite poor consensus criteria, if threatening preterm labor is associated with a bacteriuria, experts usually recommend treatment.
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