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Antibiotics for preterm, prelabour rupture of membranes

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Evidence from a systematic review showing the effectiveness of use of antibiotics in the management of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (1):

  • administration of antibiotics after PROM is associated with a delay in delivery and a reduction in maternal and neonatal morbidity
  • penicillins and erythromycin were associated with similar benefits, but erythromycin was used in larger trials and, thus, the results are more robust
  • amoxicillin/clavulanate should be avoided in women at risk of preterm delivery because of the increased risk of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis
  • antibiotic administration after PROM is beneficial for both women and neonates

NICE note that (2):

  • Antenatal prophylactic antibiotics for women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (P-PROM)
    • women with P-PROM should be offered oral erythromycin 250 mg 4 times a day for a maximum of 10 days or until the woman is in established labour (whichever is sooner)

    • if a women with P-PROM cannot tolerate erythromycin or in whom erythromycin is contraindicated, consider an oral penicillin for a maximum of 10 days or until the woman is in established labour (whichever is sooner)

    • do not offer women with P-PROM co-amoxiclav as prophylaxis for intrauterine infection


Reference:

  1. Kenyon S et al. Antibiotics for preterm rupture of membranes: a systematic review. Obset Gynecol 2004;104:1051-7.
  2. NICE (June 2022).Preterm labour and birth

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