PeRinatal, neOnatal, and Maternal OuTcomEs with azithromycin prophylaxis in pregnancy and labour (PROMOTE-PROPHYLAXIS): systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

Background: Initial randomised controlled trials (RCTs) showed that prophylactic azithromycin in pregnant women improved maternal and neonatal outcomes; however, the recent evidence did not show any benefit to neonatal survival. There is conflicting evidence over the role of azithromycin prophylaxis in antenatal and intrapartum periods. We explored whether azithromycin prophylaxis in pregnant women improves maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Methods: For this systematic review and meta-analysis registered on PROSPERO [CRD42023411093], we searched seven databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, EBSCOHost, ProQuest, and Web of Science) and clinical trial registries until 04/23/2024, for RCTs evaluating antenatal/intrapartum azithromycin prophylaxis against placebo/routine care in pregnant women. The primary outcome was neonatal mortality. Intrapartum and antenatal administration were assessed separately. We used random-effects meta-analysis. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. The GRADE approach was used to evaluate the certainty of the evidence.

Findings: Screening 2161 records retrieved 20 RCTs (56,381 participants). Intrapartum azithromycin may make little or no difference to neonatal mortality [5 RCTs, 44,436 participants; Risk Ratio (RR): 1.02, 95% CI 0.86-1.20, I ²  = 0%, very low certainty], and maternal mortality [3 RCTs, 44,131 participants, RR: 1.26, 0.65-2.42, I ²  = 0%, low certainty]. Similarly, antenatal azithromycin may have little or no effect on neonatal mortality [3 RCTs; 5304 participants; RR: 0.74, 0.35-1.56, I ²  = 43%, very-low certainty] and maternal mortality [3 RCTs; 8167 participants RR: 1.62, 0.67-3.91, I ²  = 0%, low certainty]. There is no data on long-term adverse outcomes and antimicrobial resistance.

Interpretation: Low to very low certainty evidence suggests that intrapartum or antenatal azithromycin prophylaxis in pregnant women might not reduce maternal or neonatal mortality.

Funding: None.