Objectives
The delivery of a neonate prior to viability creates difficult decisions for health care providers and parents alike. The decision to use antibiotics during this previable period can sometimes be challenging. Our study sought to examine the use of antibiotics in previable delivery at our institution.
Results
Twenty-nine of 40 women (72.5%) received antibiotics during their hospital admission, as shown in graph 1. Gestational ages at delivery ranged between 15 weeks 6 days and 22 weeks 6 days. Mean gestational age was 20 weeks 5 days. Twenty-seven women (67.5%) were diagnosed with premature rupture of membranes on admission or had premature rupture of membranes after admission. Eleven of these 27 patients (40.7%) received both ampicillin and erythromycin. The patients that received latency antibiotics were closer to viability than those that did not. The mean gestational age of those receiving both ampicillin and erythromycin was 22 weeks 0 days. Seven women (17.5%) were diagnosed with clinical chorioamnionitis; all of these women also had histological chorioamnionitis. Four of seven (57.1%) received both ampicillin and gentamicin; one of the patients also received clindamycin. Thirty-two of 37 (86.4%) patients’ placentas were found to have chorioamnionitis on histologic examination. Fourteen of the 40 women (35%) received antibiotics for GBS prophylaxis. Twelve patients (30%) received penicillin G, while 2 women received cefazolin due to penicillin allergy. The mean gestational age of those receiving penicillin G was 21 weeks 1 day with a minimum of 18 weeks 2 days.
Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
Full access? Get Clinical Tree
