Abstract
Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare neonatal morbidity and neurologic outcome at 2 years between groups treated with antibiotics regimens consisting clarithromycin and erythromycin in preterm premature rupture of the membranes (pPROM) patients delivered before 32 weeks of gestation.
Methods: This was a retrospective study comparing neonatal morbidity as primary outcome measures and the neurological outcome at 2 years as secondary outcome.
Results: A total of 166 women were included: 80 treated with erythromycin and 86 treated with clarithromycin. The median gestational age at delivery was greater in clarithromycin group (p = 0.005). There was no significant difference in latency (p = 0.77). The incidence of histological chorioamnionitis was significantly lower in clarithromycin group (p = 0.004). By multivariable analysis adjusting confounding variables, the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and intraventricular hemorrhage (≥Grade 3) was lower in clarithromycin group (BPD; OR 0.34, 95% CI [0.13–0.90]), IVH; OR 0.23, 95% CI [0.06–0.91], respectively). Other morbidities and neurologic outcome at 2 years’ corrected age showed no statistically significant difference between two groups.
Conclusion: We suggest that clarithromycin-based regimen may be worth considering as an alternative choice of erythromycin in pPROM patients.
Declaration of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
This work was supported by the Health Technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea [HI12C0024(A120035)].