Antibiotics During Pregnancy May Lower Risk of Preterm Births

Recent research suggests that the use of certain antibiotics during pregnancy could significantly reduce the likelihood of preterm births. A study conducted in Zimbabwe involving nearly 1,000 pregnant women found that daily intake of a safe and affordable antibiotic called trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole may lead to healthier birth outcomes, especially among women living with HIV. Although the overall birth weight was not notably different between those who received the antibiotic and those who did not, the group on antibiotics experienced a 40% decrease in preterm births, with only 6.9% of their babies being born prematurely compared to 11.5% in the placebo group. Notably, among HIV-positive women, preterm births dropped to just 2% with antibiotic use, versus 14% in the control group. Babies exposed to antibiotics during pregnancy also gained, on average, 177 grams in birth weight. These findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, point to the potential benefits of incorporating antibiotics into routine prenatal care to prevent prematurity—a leading cause of child mortality worldwide. The researchers emphasize the need for further studies across different settings to confirm these promising results and explore the possibility of using antibiotics as a strategy to improve neonatal health outcomes, particularly in resource-limited regions where infections and HIV are prevalent. This approach could offer a cost-effective solution to one of the most pressing challenges in maternal and child health.