Single dose of popular antibiotic given during labor significantly reduced risk of maternal death or sepsis in developing countries: Research

Overall, 14,590 people received azithromycin and 14,688 received a placebo. All participants were followed for 42 days after delivery, ensuring alignment with the WHO’s definition of maternal mortality, which includes death during pregnancy and within 42 days following delivery.

Researchers found that a single dose of azithromycin, given orally, reduced the risk of maternal death or sepsis by 33 percent in women who delivered vaginally. In addition, researchers discovered several secondary findings, including fewer hospital readmissions and emergency visits among patients who received azithromycin.

“International organizations identified severe maternal infections leading to death as a major global health problem, especially in developing counties, and there had been little progress over time” says the study’s lead author Alan Thevenet N. Tita, MD, PhD, a maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, where he holds several positions, including associate dean for Global and Women’s Health; Mary Heersink Endowed Chair of Global Health and Director of the Global Health Institute; and director of the university-wide interdisciplinary Center for Women’s Reproductive Health.

“We wanted to alleviate the burden of maternal infections in populations that give birth predominantly vaginally. Our research shows that just one dose of azithromycin may be a useful, low-cost intervention to reduce sepsis and attendant maternal deaths.”

Reference:

Alan Thevenet N. Tita, et al,SMFM 43rd Annual Pregnancy Meeting, New England Journal of Medicine.