Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2011 Sep;205(3):177-90.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2011.03.047. Epub 2011 Apr 2.

Treatment of abnormal vaginal flora in early pregnancy with clindamycin for the prevention of spontaneous preterm birth: a systematic review and metaanalysis

Ronald F Lamont  1 , Chia-Ling Nhan-Chang, Jack D Sobel, Kimberly Workowski, Agustin Conde-Agudelo, Roberto Romero
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Treatment of abnormal vaginal flora in early pregnancy with clindamycin for the prevention of spontaneous preterm birth: a systematic review and metaanalysis

Ronald F Lamont et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Sep.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the administration of clindamycin to women with abnormal vaginal flora at <22 weeks of gestation reduces the risk of preterm birth and late miscarriage. We conducted a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials of the early administration of clindamycin to women with abnormal vaginal flora at <22 weeks of gestation. Five trials that comprised 2346 women were included. Clindamycin that was administered at <22 weeks of gestation was associated with a significantly reduced risk of preterm birth at <37 weeks of gestation and late miscarriage. There were no overall differences in the risk of preterm birth at <33 weeks of gestation, low birthweight, very low birthweight, admission to neonatal intensive care unit, stillbirth, peripartum infection, and adverse effects. Clindamycin in early pregnancy in women with abnormal vaginal flora reduces the risk of spontaneous preterm birth at <37 weeks of gestation and late miscarriage. There is evidence to justify further randomized controlled trials of clindamycin for the prevention of preterm birth. However, a deeper understanding of the vaginal microbiome, mucosal immunity, and the biology of BV will be needed to inform the design of such trials.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flowchart of literature search
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Preterm birth at <37 weeks of gestation (5 studies; fixed effects model)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

    1. Romero R, Sepulveda W, Baumann P, et al. The preterm labor syndrome: biochemical, cytologic, immunologic, pathologic, microbiologic, and clinical evidence that preterm labor is a heterogeneous disease. AmJ Obstet Gynecol. 1993;168:287.
    1. Romero R, Mazor M, Munoz H, Gomez R, Galasso M, Sherer DM. The preterm labor syndrome. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1994;734:414–429. - PubMed
    1. Romero R, Mazor M, Wu YK, et al. Infection in the pathogenesis of preterm labor. Semin Perinatol. 1988;12:262–279. - PubMed
    1. Gibbs RS, Romero R, Hillier SL, Eschenbach DA, Sweet RL. A review of premature birth and subclinical infection. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1992;166:1515–1528. - PubMed
    1. Minkoff H. Prematurity: infection as an etiologic factor. Obstet Gynecol. 1983;62:137–144. - PubMed

MeSH terms