Clindamycin to reduce preterm birth in a low resource setting: a randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE To determine whether oral clindamycin reduces the risk of preterm birth (PTB) in women with abnormal vaginal microflora as evidenced by a vaginal pH ≥5.0. DESIGN Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial. SETTING Rural southern India. POPULATION Pregnant women with a singleton fetus between 13+0/7 weeks and 20+6/7 weeks. METHODS Pregnant women were recruited during prenatal visits in Karnataka, India, from October 2013 to July 2015. Women were required to have a singleton fetus between 13+0/7 weeks and 20+6/7 weeks and an elevated vaginal pH (≥5.0) by colorimetric assessment. Participants were randomised to either oral clindamycin 300 mg twice daily for 5 days or an identical-appearing placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the incidence of PTB, defined as delivery before 37+0/7 weeks. RESULTS Of the 6476 screened women, 1727 women were randomised (block randomised in groups of six; clindamycin n = 866, placebo n = 861). The demographic, reproductive, and anthropomorphometric characteristics of the study groups were similar. Compliance was high, with over 94% of capsules being taken. The rate of PTB before 37 weeks was comparable between the two groups [clindamycin 115/826 (13.9%) versus placebo 111/806 (13.8%), between-group difference 0.2% (95% CI -3.2 to 3.5%, P = 0.93)], as was PTB at less than 34 weeks [clindamycin 40/826 (4.8%) versus placebo group 37/806 (4.6%), between-group difference 0.3% (95% CI -1.8 to 2.3%, P = 0.81)]. No differences were detected in the incidence of birthweight of<2500 g, <1500 g, miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. CONCLUSION In this setting, oral clindamycin did not decrease PTB among women with vaginal pH ≥5.0. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT Oral clindamycin between 13+0/7 and 20+6/7 weeks does not prevent preterm birth in women with a vaginal pH ≥5.0.