New Delhi: A daily dose of a widely used, safe, and low-cost antibiotic may significantly reduce the risk of preterm births in pregnant women living with HIV, according to a new study involving nearly 1,000 women in Zimbabwe.
The research, conducted by an international team from the UK and Zimbabwe, found that HIV-positive women who took the antibiotic trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole during pregnancy delivered larger babies and had fewer premature births.
Trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial with anti-inflammatory properties, commonly used across sub-Saharan Africa.
The study showed a striking reduction in preterm births among a subgroup of 131 HIV-positive women: only 2% of those who took the antibiotic gave birth prematurely, compared to 14% in the placebo group.
“Our findings suggest that in regions where infections like HIV are prevalent, a low-cost daily antibiotic could help prevent preterm births,” said Professor Andrew Prendergast, an expert in Paediatric Infection and Immunology at Queen Mary University of London. “We urgently need effective strategies to prevent preterm births — the leading cause of death in children under five.”
He added, “If further trials confirm these results, this could become a promising new approach to help more newborns survive and thrive.”
Globally, one in four live births is affected by prematurity, low birth weight, or being small for gestational age. These infants face significantly higher mortality risks, with prematurity now being the top cause of death in children under five.
Infections and inflammation during pregnancy, particularly in women with HIV, are strongly linked to poor birth outcomes.
The randomized controlled trial included 993 pregnant women from three antenatal clinics in central Zimbabwe. Participants received either a daily 960 mg dose of the antibiotic or a placebo.
The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed a 40% drop in preterm births among the antibiotic group compared to those given the placebo. While there was no significant difference in average birth weight between the groups, only 6.9% of mothers on the antibiotic delivered prematurely — compared to 11.5% in the placebo group. Notably, no mothers who took the antibiotic gave birth before 28 weeks.
With inputs from IANS