An Observational Cohort Study of Chlamydia Trachomatis Treatment in Pregnancy

Azithromycin is currently not considered a first-line treatment for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnant women. The authors of the current study sought to evaluate the use, efficacy, and safety of azithromycin in pregnant women with genital chlamydia infection compared with erythromycin and amoxicillin. Data on antibiotics prescribed, test-of-cure (TOC) results, and maternal and infant complications were collected for the retrospective cohort study.

Sixty-nine percent of the 277 women in the study sample were initially prescribed azithromycin, 19 percent erythromycin, and 9 percent amoxicillin. A TOC seven or more days after diagnosis and prior to delivery was found in 81 percent of subjects. "Treatment efficacy, as defined by a negative TOC, was 97 percent (95 percent confidence interval [CI], 92.9-99.2) for azithromycin, 95 percent (95 percent CI, 76.2-99.9) for amoxicillin, and 64 percent (95 percent CI, 44.1-81.4) for erythromycin. The efficacy of azithromycin was significantly higher than erythromycin (P<0.0001)," said the researchers, who found no significant differences in efficacy by age, race/ethnicity, concurrent STD diagnosis, partner treatment, or substance abuse. In addition, there was no difference in complications for women or infants exposed to azithromycin compared with other treatment regimens.

"Clinical outcome data from this study population of women and infants support both efficacy and safety of azithromycin for treatment of C. trachomatis in pregnancy," the researchers concluded.

Back to other news for February 3, 2006