Abstract
Background
We aimed to investigate the treatment efficacy of ampicillin prophylaxis accompanied by Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus over the latency period following preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).
Methods
Records of 40 patients who presented with PPROM between 230/7–316/7 weeks were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (n=20), treated with ampicillin; and group 2 (n=20), treated with ampicillin plus L. casei rhamnosus. Clinical and laboratory parameters were compared. Delta (Δ) values of each laboratory parameter were calculated by subtracting the value at delivery from the values at admission to the clinic.
Results
Gestational weeks at delivery (28.1±0.3 weeks versus 31.5±0.4 weeks), latency periods (12.3±1.5 days versus 41.4±4.4 days), 5-minute APGAR scores (6.8±0.1 versus 7.8±0.1), and birth weights (1,320±98 g versus 1,947±128 g) were significantly higher in group 2. White blood cell (WBC) (12,820±353/mm3 versus 11,107±298/mm3), and neutrophil counts (10.7±0.5×103/L versus 8.2±0.5×103/L) were significantly lower in group 2 at delivery. The ΔWBC (2,295±74/mm3 versus −798±−406/mm3), ΔC-reactive protein (5±0.04 mg/L versus 1.6±0.2 mg/L), and Δneutrophil (3±0.2×103/L versus 0.2±−0.1×103/L) were significantly lower in group 2.
Conclusion
It seems that addition of L. casei rhamnosus to ampicillin prolongs the latency period in patients with PPROM remote from term.
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Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.