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RecruitingNCT07669207Updated Sep 4, 2026

Extended Azithromycin Treatment in Prelabor Rupture of Membranes

A Phase 4 interventional study of Azithromycin (Azithro) and Standard Azithromycin Dosing in Preterm Prelabor Rupture of Membranes and PPROM, sponsored by Alexa Henderson. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-04.

Sponsored by Alexa Henderson · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
30
Allocation
Randomized
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to learn whether adding extra doses of azithromycin to the standard antibiotic treatment for preterm prelabor rupture of membranes may improve pregnancy outcomes for patients between 22 weeks and 28 weeks gestational age.

Researchers will compare the standard antibiotic treatment to the standard antibiotic treatment with additional doses of azithromycin.

Participants will:

  • Be randomly assigned to one of two groups:
  • The standard antibiotic treatment
  • The standard antibiotic treatment plus 7 additional doses of oral azithromycin 500 mg every other day.
  • Participants will be asked to complete a survey regarding their experience and side effects.
Read the detailed description

Multiple randomized trials have shown that antibiotic treatment for preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) increases pregnancy latency and decreases maternal and neonatal morbidity. However, the optimal dosing schedule for azithromycin in PPROM is not fully understood. This pilot study will assess the feasibility of a non-blinded, randomized-controlled trial comparing maternal and neonatal outcomes between the standard PPROM antibiotic regimen and the standard regimen with extended azithromycin therapy in participants with periviable and extremely preterm PPROM between 22- and 28-weeks gestational age. Preliminary data on pregnancy latency, maternal morbidity, and neonatal outcomes will also be collected. Findings from this feasibility study will inform the design of a future, powered study.

The investigators hypothesize that extended azithromycin therapy may be associated with longer pregnancy latency and decreased rates of maternal and neonatal morbidity compared to standard therapy. This hypothesis is exploratory, and the present feasibility study is not powered to test a hypothesis.

The primary objective is to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a non-blinded, randomized controlled trial of extended azithromycin therapy in participants with periviable and extremely preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) who desire expectant management between 22 and 28 weeks gestational age. Specifically, we aim to assess feasibility metrics including recruitment and consent rates, randomization procedures, adherence to the study protocol, and completeness of follow-up.

The secondary objectives of this pilot study are to estimate the variability (standard deviation) of pregnancy latency in this population to inform sample-size calculations for a future definitive trial. The investigators will also collect preliminary data on maternal outcomes (e.g., rates of intra-amniotic infection, endometritis, and placental abruption) and neonatal outcomes (gestational age at delivery, NICU admission, morbidity) for planning purposes. Additionally, the investigators will review placental pathology reports to identify the stage/grade of chorioamnionitis per the Amsterdam criteria. The investigators will obtain an initial estimate of the effect of extended azithromycin on pregnancy latency, recognizing that this pilot study is not powered to detect clinically meaningful differences.

02

Conditions studied

  • Preterm Prelabor Rupture of Membranes
  • PPROM

Keywords

  • azithromycin
  • peri-viability
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
Child (0–17), Adult (18–64), Older adult (65+)
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Singleton gestation
  • Gestational age at time of PPROM between 22w0d and 28w0d
  • Opting for expectant management in the inpatient setting after completion of a maternal-fetal medicine and neonatology consultation (per standard of care)
  • Remain pregnant 48 hours after presentation.
  • Patients who receive betamethasone, magnesium therapy, and/or a limited course of tocolysis (through the betamethasone window) will be included.
  • Pregnant patients below the age of 18 are eligible.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Contraindications to expectant management (clinical intra-amniotic infection, active preterm labor, or acute placental abruption)
  • Lethal congenital defects
  • Multiple gestation
  • Ongoing alternative antibiotic treatment
  • Known hypersensitivity to azithromycin, erythromycin, any macrolide or ketolide antibiotic
  • History of cholestatic jaundice/hepatic dysfunction associated with prior use of azithromycin
  • Known prolongation of QT interval
  • History of torsades de pointes
  • Congenital long QT syndrome
  • Bradyarrhythmia
  • Decompensated heart failure
  • Drugs known to significantly prolong the QT interval including Class 1A and Class III antiarrhythmic agents
  • Impaired hepatic function
  • GFR\<10 mL/min
  • Diagnosis of myasthenia gravis
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
30 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Standard Antibiotic Regimen

    A single dose of oral azithromycin 1 gram which is given at the time of presentation in addition to the standard intravenous ampicillin 2g q6h for 48 hours followed by oral amoxicillin 250 mg q8 hours for 5 days.

    Drug: Standard Azithromycin Dosing

  • Experimental
    Extended Azithromycin Regimen

    The standard antibiotic regimen will be given in addition to Azithromycin 500g every other day for 7 additional doses.

    Drug: Azithromycin (Azithro) · Drug: Standard Azithromycin Dosing

Interventions

  • DrugAzithromycin (Azithro)

    Azithromycin 500 mg every other day for 7 additional doses will be given in addition to the standard antibiotic regimen.

  • DrugStandard Azithromycin Dosing

    Oral Azithromycin 1g once.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Recruitment Capability

    Number of participants recruited per week/month

    Time frame: From recruitment to enrollment, up to 3 days.

  2. Participant Eligibility

    Percentage of eligible participants who agree to participate, reasons for refusal or ineligibility

    Time frame: From recruitment until enrollment, up to 3 days.

  3. Retention and Dropout Rates

    Percentage of patients who complete study and reasons for withdrawal from study.

    Time frame: From recruitment to completion of the study, up to 4 months.

  4. Intervention Delivery

    Percentage of interventions delivered as intended

    Time frame: From recruitment to completion of intervention, up to 15 days.

  5. Participant Acceptability

    Likert-scale survey evaluating the participant's perceived affective attitude, burden, ethicality, intervention coherence, confidence, opportunity costs, general acceptability, and side effects related to the study.

    Time frame: At completion of study (either after Day 14 of study or after delivery if does not complete study) prior to hospital discharge.

  6. Data Collection Procedures

    Data completeness measured as number of participants with complete data entry.

    Time frame: From recruitment to completion of postpartum period, up to 6 months.

  7. Resource Use and Cost

    Total cost versus planned budget, time and staffing required.

    Time frame: From recruitment to postpartum period, up to 6 months.

  8. Incidence of Treatment-Related Adverse Events [Safety and Tolerability]

    Adverse events associated with antibiotic usage, maternal and neonatal outcomes, bacterial resistance profiles. Assessed using previously validated Medication Side Effect survey.

    Time frame: Ongoing during treatment from Day 2 through Day 14. Formally assessed with surveys as above on Day 8 and Day 14 (or earlier if delivers prior to completion of study period).

  9. Protocol Deviations

    Incidence of protocol deviation, indications for protocol deviation.

    Time frame: From recruitment to completion of intervention, up to 15 days.

  10. Time for Delivery

    Amount of study team time needed for delivery.

    Time frame: From recruitment to completion of postpartum period, up to 6 months.

  11. Financial Resources

    Amount of monetary resources needed for study delivery.

    Time frame: From recruitment to postpartum period, up to 6 months.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pregnancy Latency

    Number of days participants remain pregnant after PPROM until delivery

    Time frame: From time of PPROM diagnosis (D0) until day of delivery, up to 3 months.

  2. Pregnancy Outcome

    Intrauterine fetal demise, neonatal demise while in NICU, living infant to NICU discharge.

    Time frame: From time of PPROM diagnosis (D0) until day of delivery, up to 3 months.

  3. NICU Admission

    Requirement for NICU admission.

    Time frame: From day of delivery through neonatal discharge, up to 4 months.

  4. Neonatal Ventilatory Support

    Level of ventilatory support required for neonate (none, bubble CPAP, intubation).

    Time frame: From day of delivery through neonatal discharge, up to 4 months.

  5. Neonatal Sepsis

    Rates of early-onset sepsis, late-onset sepsis (including culture positive sepsis and culture-negative, clinically suspected sepsis)

    Time frame: From day of delivery through neonatal discharge, up to 4 months.

  6. Neonatal Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH)

    Grade of IVH if present.

    Time frame: From day of delivery through neonatal discharge, up to 4 months.

  7. Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome

    Documented respiratory distress syndrome by neonatology providers.

    Time frame: From day of delivery through neonatal discharge, up to 4 months.

  8. Necrotizing enterocolitis

    Rate of documented necrotizing enterocolitis by neonatology team.

    Time frame: From day of delivery through neonatal discharge, up to 4 months.

  9. Mode of delivery

    Cesarean section, vaginal delivery, or operative delivery.

    Time frame: From day of PPROM (D0) through day of delivery, up to 3 months.

  10. Indication for delivery

    Non-reassuring fetal status, labor, intra-uterine infection, placental abruption, cord prolapse.

    Time frame: From day of PPROM (D0) through day of delivery, up to 3 months.

  11. Maternal group B streptococcus status

    Positive or negative group B streptococcus maternal rectovaginal culture.

    Time frame: From day of PPROM (D0) through day of delivery, up to 3 months.

  12. Maternal postpartum hemorrhage

    Estimated blood loss greater than 1000mL after delivery.

    Time frame: From day of PPROM (D0) through 6 weeks postpartum, up to 4 months.

  13. Suspected intraamniotic infection

    Defined as maternal temperature greater than 39 degrees Celsius OR maternal temperature between 38.0-38.9 degrees Celsius plus one or more additional clinical risk factors: maternal leukocytosis greater than 15,000/mm\^3, purulent cervical drainage, or fetal tachycardia.

    Time frame: From day of PPROM (D0) through day of delivery, up to 3 months.

  14. Confirmed intraamniotic infection

    Positive amniotic fluid test result OR placental pathology demonstrating histologic evidence of infection or inflammation.

    Time frame: From day of PPROM (D0) through delivery with postpartum placental pathology result, up to 3 months.

  15. Maternal sepsis

    Suspected sepsis documented by clinical provider in chart or culture proven sepsis.

    Time frame: From day of PPROM (D0) through 6 weeks postpartum, up to 4 months.

  16. Maternal placental abruption

    Clinical evidence of placental abruption documented by OBGYN provider.

    Time frame: From day of PPROM (D0) through day of delivery, up to 3 months.

  17. Maternal ICU Admission

    Required admission to adult ICU prior to or after delivery.

    Time frame: From day of PPROM (D0) through 6 weeks postpartum, up to 4 months.

  18. Maternal postpartum endomtritis

    Documented clinical diagnosis of endometritis in participant chart.

    Time frame: From day of delivery through 6 weeks postpartum.

  19. Maternal retained products of conception

    Clinical documentation of retained products of conception in participant chart.

    Time frame: From day of delivery through 6 weeks postpartum.

  20. Additional maternal surgical procedures

    Requirement of additional surgical procedures following delivery (suction dilation and curettage, hysterectomy).

    Time frame: From day of delivery through 6 weeks postpartum.

  21. Maternal blood transfusion

    Documented maternal blood transfusion following delivery.

    Time frame: From day of PPROM (D0) through 6 weeks postpartum, up to 4 months.

  22. Maternal antibiotic course completion

    Number of participants in intervention arm who completed the extended antibiotic course.

    Time frame: From day of PPROM (D0) through day of delivery, up to D14.

  23. Additional maternal antibiotic administration

    Maternal antibiotics administered for other indications after enrollment in the study.

    Time frame: From day of PPROM (D0) through day of delivery, up to 3 months.

  24. Maternal placental pathology

    Maternal and fetal inflammation stage/grade as defined by the Amsterdam Criteria.

    Time frame: From day of PPROM (D0) through delivery with postpartum placental pathology result, up to 3 months.

06

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • University of Pittsburgh Magee-Womens Hospital
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15217, United States
    • Alexa Henderson, MD · Contact · hendersona8@upmc.edu · 9136019107
    • Christina Megli, MD, PhD · Contact · meglicj@upmc.edu
    • Christina Megli, MD, PhD · Principal investigator
    • Alexa Henderson, MD · Sub investigator
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — All IPD collected throughout the study will potentially be shared with future collaborating sites if the feasibility trial is expanded to a multi-center trial.

Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap, Icf, Csr, Analytic code

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07669207
Lead sponsor
Alexa Henderson
Responsible party
Alexa Henderson (Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow, University of Pittsburgh) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Jun 25, 2026
Start date
Aug 19, 2026
Primary completion
May 2028 (estimated)
Completion
Jul 2028 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 4, 2026

Study contacts

Alexa Henderson, MD
Contact
hendersona8@upmc.edu
9136019107
Christina Megli, MD, PhD
Contact
meglicj@upmc.edu
Christina Megli, MD/PhD
principal investigator · University of Pittsburgh Magee-Womens Hospital

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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