Prophylactic Intrapartum Antibiotics and Immunological Markers for Postpartum Morbidity in HIV Positive Women
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2005-05-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Postpartum infections are among the leading causes of maternal mortality world-wide,
particularly in under-resourced countries. Available data suggests that HIV infected women
are at greater risk of postpartum complications than uninfected women. In South Africa,
HIV/AIDS and related infections are now cumulatively the leading causes of maternal deaths
(though indirectly), with puerperal sepsis among the 5 most common causes.
This was a prospective longitudinal cohort of HIV infected (n = 675) and uninfected (n = 648)
women. These were women in whom vaginal delivery was anticipated, and were recruited at > 36
weeks of gestation during the antenatal period.
Hypothesis - HIV infected women are at increased risk of postpartum infectious morbidity and
this morbidity can be reduced by use of prophylactic intrapartum antibiotics.