ArticleAJOG global reports2023
Primary prevention with vaginal chlorhexidine before 16 weeks reduces the incidence of preterm birth: results of the Preterm Labor Prevention Using Vaginal Antiseptics study.
Article in AJOG global reports, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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1 citing paper in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.
- Fetal Heart Rate at 12 Weeks' Gestation and the Risk of Preterm Birth: A Prospective Validation Study.Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPreterm labor is one of the leading causes of perinatal death and is currently considered a syndrome with many causes. One of the most important causes of preterm birth is ascending infection from bacterial vaginosis. Chlorhexidine has proven to be effective against bacterial vaginosis and against bacterial biofilms without affecting gestation.
objectiveWe aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a universal primary prevention strategy for preterm birth using intravaginal chlorhexidine applied before 16 weeks (Preterm Labor Prevention Using Vaginal Antiseptics study). STUDY
designWe performed a prospective observational study with 2 cohorts of pregnant women that were assigned either to prevention of preterm birth by means of intravaginal chlorhexidine (Cum Laude Chlorhexidine, chlorhexidine digluconate 0.2%) before 16 weeks (n=413), or to no treatment following the usual hospital protocol (n=704). Primary outcomes were the incidence of spontaneous preterm birth before 34 and 37 weeks; the incidence of preterm birth before 34 and 37 weeks, including inductions for premature rupture of membranes; and the incidence of preterm birth before 34 and 37 weeks, including any indication for termination of pregnancy. Both cohorts were compared using Mann-Whitney and Fisher tests. Finally, a multivariable analysis, including the odds ratio was performed, adjusting for clinical parameters, to evaluate the importance of the different determinants in the prediction of preterm birth.
resultsIn pregnancies treated with chlorhexidine, the incidences of spontaneous preterm birth; preterm birth, including induction for premature rupture of membranas; and preterm birth, including any indication for termination of pregnancy were at 34 and 37 weeks: 0% and 0%, 0.24% and 1.69, and 2.90% and 3.15%, respectively; whereas in nontreated pregnancies, these incidences were 9% and 11%, 12% and 23%, and 35% and 43%, respectively. According to the multivariable analysis, the incidence of preterm birth among women treated with chlorhexidine before 16 weeks was halved (Odds ratio, 0.52;
conclusionUniversal treatment with vaginal chlorhexidine before 16 weeks reduces the incidence of preterm birth, especially before 34 weeks.
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