Antibiotic prophylaxis for premature rupture of membranes and perinatal outcome

To evaluate the perinatal outcomes of newborns after premature rupture of membranes (PROM) at the term according to the timing of initial antibiotic administration.

This is a retrospective, cohort study investigating perinatal outcomes of newborns in pregnant women with PROM at the term who were treated with ampicillin within or after 6 h from the PROM. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test for continuous variables test and chi-square or for categorical data.

The study involved 144 pregnant women with PROM and their newborns, a lower number received antibiotics after birth were in the group who received antibiotics within 6 h of PROM (26.4% versus 73.6%), the mediane values of C-reactive protein were lower (3.0 ± 2.9 mg/l versus 6.1 ± 7.3 mg/l; p < 0.001), their newborns remained shorter in hospital after birth (4.13 versus 4.94; p =0.023) and time between PROM and delivery was shorter (p < 0.001). In group who received prophylactic antibiotics after 6 h of the PROM had significantly higher frequency of infection in newborns (45.3% versus 15.4%), and higher number of chorioamnionitis (9.72% versus 3,47%) compared to group who received antibiotics within 6h.

Timely usage of antibiotic prophylaxis and shorter time between PROM and delivery improve perinatal outcomes.