Treatment of asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis to prevent pre-term delivery: a randomised trial.

Author(s): Guaschino S, Ricci E, Franchi M, Frate GD, Tibaldi C, Santo DD, Ghezzi F, Benedetto C, Seta FD, Parazzini F

Affiliation(s): Clinica Ostetrico Ginecologica, Universita di Trieste, Trieste, Italy.

Publication date & source: 2003-10-10, Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol., 110(2):149-52.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of clindamycin vaginal cream 2% once daily for 7 days in prolonging pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Randomised clinical trial of 112 women between 14 and 25 weeks of gestation with diagnosis of asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis were enrolled in a multicenter randomised trial and assigned to active or no treatment. A total of 55 women were assigned to clindamycin and 57 to no treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: frequency of pre-term delivery. RESULTS: The rates of pre-term delivery was 12.2% in the clindamycin group and 15.7% in the no treatment group (P=0.78). Birth weight was <2500 g in three and seven babies, respectively, in the two groups (P=0.32). Mean gestational ages at birth were 38.9 and 39.2 (P=0.52), respectively, in the clindamycin and no treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that treating asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis does neither markedly prolong pregnancy nor increase birthweight.