Antibiotic therapy for preterm premature rupture of membranes - results of a multicenter study

To evaluate whether primary application of mezlozillin in preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM) prolongs pregnancy and lowers neonatal morbidity.

In this prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study a total of 105 pregnant women with pPROM between 24 + 0 and 32 + 6 weeks of gestation were examined receiving i.v. injections of corticoids and tocolytics as well as mezlocillin (3 x 2 g/d) or placebo. Assessed factors were prolongation of pregnancy and neonatal morbidity such as neonatal infection, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

Prolongation of pregnancy by more than 7 days was achieved in 63.8% of the mezlocillin group versus 44.8% of the placebo group (P < 0.05). The babies of mothers treated with anibiotics had fewer neonatal infections, RDS, IVH and NEC. Total morbidity was significantly lowered in the verum group (P = 0.02).

Antibiotic administration following preterm premature rupture of membranes is associated with a prolongation of pregnancy and a reduction of neonatal infectious morbidity.