Effectiveness of intrapartum azithromycin to prevent infections in planned vaginal births in low-income and middle-income countries: a post-hoc analysis of data from a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Año de publicación: 2025
Background In 2023, the Azithromycin Prevention in Labor Use (A-PLUS) trial showed intrapartum azithromycin reduces maternal sepsis or death in women with planned vaginal delivery in low-resource settings, but whether it reduces maternal infection is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of intrapartum azithromycin in reducing maternal infection. Methods We performed a post-hoc analysis of the multicentre, facility-based, randomised, double-blind, placebocontrolled A-PLUS trial. This trial compared prophylactic intrapartum single oral dose of 2 g azithromycin versus placebo on maternal morbidity and mortality in low-resource settings in southeast Asia and Africa from Sept 9, 2020, to Aug 18, 2022. The trial enrolled women in labour at 28 weeks’ gestation (or later) at eight sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Zambia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Guatemala and found that azithromycin reduced the incidence of maternal sepsis or death. The primary outcome of the present analysis was the incidence of any maternal infection in the azithromycin versus placebo groups, which was defined as one or more of these infections after randomisation: chorioamnionitis, endometritis, perineal or caesarean wound infection, abdominopelvic abscess, mastitis or breast abscess, and other infections. Any neonatal infection was also analysed. All analyses were by intention to treat in all those with data available for that outcome. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs were estimated with a Poisson model adjusted for treatment group and site. Subgroup analyses included a two-way interaction test between intervention group and subgroup. A-PLUS was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT03871491.