Antibiotics to Treat and Prevent Infection During Preterm LaborCurrent as of: November 21, 2017 Author: Healthwise Staff Medical Review: Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine & Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
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Antibiotics to Treat and Prevent Infection During Preterm LaborTopic OverviewDuring preterm labor, antibiotics may be used to treat or prevent an infection. Treatment with antibioticsIf an infection is causing your preterm labor, you will be treated with antibiotics . The type used depends on which bacteria are causing the infection. The antibiotics most commonly used during pregnancy include erythromycin, clindamycin, ampicillin, gentamicin, and metronidazole. Antibiotics don't always clear up uterine infection. And they don't always prevent preterm labor . If a mother's uterus has become infected and her fetus is mature enough, her doctor or nurse-midwife might not try to delay the birth. Prevention with antibiotics after pPROMPreterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM) means that your water breaks (rupture of the amniotic sac) before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. When given to women with pPROM, antibiotics may: footnote 1
Prevention with antibiotics with intact membranesAntibiotics are not a recommended treatment for women in preterm labor with intact membranes. (This means the amniotic sac has not ruptured.) But some women do get antibiotics to prevent or treat group B strep . Related InformationReferences
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ByHealthwise Staff Current as ofNovember 21, 2017
Current as of: November 21, 2017 Author: Healthwise Staff Medical Review: Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine & Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology Haas DM (2011). Preterm birth, search date June 2010. BMJ Clinical Evidence. Available online: http://www.clinicalevidence.com.
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