Erythromycin Treatment for Chlamydia in Pregnant Women
Author Information
Author(s): David H. Martin, David A. Eschenbach, Mary Frances Cotch, Robert P. Nugent, A. Vijaya Rao, Mark A. Klebanoff, Yu Lou, Philip J. Rettig, Ronald S. Gibbs, Joseph G. Pastorek II, Joan A. Regan, Richard A. Kaslow
Primary Institution: Louisiana State University
Hypothesis
Does treatment of pregnant women with Chlamydia trachomatis infection lower the incidence of preterm delivery and/or low birth weight?
Conclusion
Erythromycin treatment can reduce the risk of low birth weight in some women with Chlamydia trachomatis infection.
Supporting Evidence
- Erythromycin-treated women had fewer low birth weight infants compared to placebo-treated women at sites with high C. trachomatis persistence.
- Overall, there was no significant impact of erythromycin on pregnancy outcomes when data from all sites were combined.
- Compliance data showed that 55% of women taking erythromycin experienced at least one side effect.
Takeaway
Giving pregnant women medicine for a certain infection can help some babies be born healthier.
Methodology
Pregnant women were randomized to receive either erythromycin or placebo from 23 to 29 weeks of gestation until the 35th week.
Potential Biases
High clearance of C. trachomatis in the placebo group may have affected results.
Limitations
The trial included only 414 women, limiting the ability to detect small differences, and 20% of women receiving erythromycin remained C. trachomatis positive.
Participant Demographics
Participants were primarily Black and Hispanic women, with a mean age of 21.5 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.04
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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