A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of penicillin in preterm premature rupture of membranes. 1994

J M Ernest, and L B Givner
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157.

OBJECTIVE Preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes is common and frequently results in infectious complications. A prospective, randomized, controlled trial of penicillin versus placebo in preterm premature rupture of membranes is reported. The aim of the study was to determine if prophylactic antibiotics after preterm premature rupture of membranes would reduce infectious complications in the mother or neonate. METHODS Patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes between 21 and 37 weeks' gestation were randomized into a penicillin group that received 1 million units of benzylpenicillin intravenously every 4 hours followed by 250 mg of potassium phenoxymethyl penicillin (Pen-Vee K, Wyeth-Ayerst) orally twice daily or a placebo group before delivery. Latency period, infectious complications, and neonatal outcomes were studied. RESULTS Patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes who received prophylactic penicillin had fewer infectious complications, including intraamniotic infection and postpartum endometritis (4 vs 11, p < 0.03), without adverse effects on the mother or fetus. CONCLUSIONS Prophylactic penicillin in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes reduces maternal infectious complications without adversely affecting the mother or newborn.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D010400 Penicillin G A penicillin derivative commonly used in the form of its sodium or potassium salts in the treatment of a variety of infections. It is effective against most gram-positive bacteria and against gram-negative cocci. It has also been used as an experimental convulsant because of its actions on GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID mediated synaptic transmission. Benzylpenicillin,Benpen,Benzylpenicillin Potassium,Coliriocilina,Crystapen,Or-pen,Parcillin,Pekamin,Pengesod,Penibiot,Penicilina G Llorente,Penicillin G Jenapharm,Penicillin G Potassium,Penicillin G Sodium,Penicillin GrĂ¼nenthal,Penilevel,Peniroger,Pfizerpen,Sodiopen,Sodipen,Sodium Benzylpenicillin,Sodium Penicillin,Unicilina,Ursopen,Van-Pen-G
D010404 Penicillin V A broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotic used orally in the treatment of mild to moderate infections by susceptible gram-positive organisms. Penicillin, Phenoxymethyl,Apocillin,Beromycin,Beromycin, Penicillin,Berromycin, Penicillin,Betapen,Fenoxymethylpenicillin,Pen VK,Penicillin V Potassium,Penicillin V Sodium,Penicillin VK,Phenoxymethylpenicillin,V-Cillin K,Vegacillin,Penicillin Beromycin,Penicillin Berromycin,Phenoxymethyl Penicillin,Potassium, Penicillin V,Sodium, Penicillin V,V Cillin K,V Sodium, Penicillin,VCillin K
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011446 Prospective Studies Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group. Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
D012007 Rectum The distal segment of the LARGE INTESTINE, between the SIGMOID COLON and the ANAL CANAL. Rectums
D002821 Chorioamnionitis INFLAMMATION of the placental membranes (CHORION; AMNION) and connected tissues such as fetal BLOOD VESSELS and UMBILICAL CORD. It is often associated with intrauterine ascending infections during PREGNANCY. Amnionitis,Funisitis,Amnionitides,Chorioamnionitides,Funisitides
D005260 Female Females
D005322 Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture Spontaneous tearing of the membranes surrounding the FETUS any time before the onset of OBSTETRIC LABOR. Preterm PROM is membrane rupture before 37 weeks of GESTATION. Premature Rupture of Membrane (Pregnancy),PROM (Pregnancy),Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes,Preterm PROM (Pregnancy),Preterm Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes,Membrane Premature Rupture (Pregnancy),Membrane Premature Ruptures (Pregnancy),PROM, Preterm (Pregnancy)
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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