Azithromycin to Improve Latency in Exam Indicated Cerclage Control Trial

NCT ID: NCT05132829

Last Updated: 2023-06-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Clinical Phase: PHASE4
• Total Enrollment: 50 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-12-20
• Study Completion Date: 2025-06-30

Brief Summary

Azithromycin is an antibiotic that is effective against bacteria that been associated with preterm birth (PTB). The purpose of this study is to evaluate if the addition of azithromycin prior to exam indicated cerclage prolongs gestation. A cerclage is a suture placed in the cervix to prolong gestation.

Detailed Description

Preterm birth (PTB) continues to be a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The rate of spontaneous PTB (delivery before 37 weeks gestation) is one in ten pregnancies and a history of prior preterm birth remains a risk factor for recurrence. The pathophysiology of cervical insufficiency leading to PTB remains poorly understood.

While interventions for PTB prevention are limited, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) supports the use of cervical cerclage. A physical exam indicated cerclage may be placed in the setting of painless cervical dilation in the second trimester. The cerclage is believed to provide mechanical support to a weakened cervix and promote the cervical mucosal plug as a barrier to ascending infection.

While many aspects of cerclage use have been extensively studied, the use of antibiotics prior to placement remains under evaluated. While antibiotic use is recommended during cesarean section, preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), and obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS), ACOG currently does not recommend perioperative antibiotics or prophylactic tocolytics at the time of cerclage placement citing insufficient evidence.

Miller et al. performed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) showing an increased incidence of pregnancy prolongation by at least 28 days among women who received indomethacin and perioperative antibiotics in the setting of an exam indicated cerclage compared to those who received no perioperative medications (92.3% vs 62.5%, p=0.01). Participants in the experimental arm received cefazolin or clindamycin if they had a penicillin allergy. Cefazolin is a first generation cephalosporin that has activity against gram positive cocci and gram negative rods and is commonly used for surgical prophylaxis. Clindamycin is a protein synthesis inhibitor and covers gram positive organisms and anaerobic bacteria, making it an appropriate alternative in cases of penicillin allergy. The use of cefazolin specifically with indomethacin has been studied retrospectively and showed a significant improvement in gestational latency (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 1.21, 95% CI 1.05-1.40) and birth weight (+489.8 grams, 95% CI 64.6-915.0).

The use of prolonged azithromycin with cerclage has been studied in a prospective, non- randomized fashion. In this study, patients were given 500mg azithromycin for 3 days and this was repeated every 10 days until 34 weeks. Patients who received this regimen and a cerclage had lower PTB (65.7% vs 5.7%, p<0.001) and reduced immediate fetal mortality (37.1% vs 0%, p<0.001).

The aim of our study is to determine if the addition of azithromycin prior to exam indicated cerclage prolongs gestation. Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that binds to the 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome and inhibits transpeptidation. It is effective against a wide variety of bacteria, specifically mycoplasma which has been associated with preterm birth. Azithromycin is currently used in obstetrics for patients undergoing nonelective cesarean delivery and as part of latency antibiotics in the setting of PPROM.

Conditions

Preterm Birth; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Obstetric Labor Complications; Pregnancy Complications; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Uterine Cervical Incompetence; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azithromycin; Cefazolin

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Cefazolin and Indomethacin

Control arm- perioperative cefazolin and indomethacin

Group Type: OTHER

Cefazolin and indomethacin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Perioperative standard of care with cefazolin and indomethacin

Azithromycin + control

perioperative azithromycin, cefazolin and indomethacin

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Azithromycin 1 gram IV

Intervention Type: DRUG

Perioperative addition of azithromycin at the time of physical exam indicated cerclage placement.

Cefazolin and indomethacin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Perioperative standard of care with cefazolin and indomethacin

Interventions

Azithromycin 1 gram IV

Perioperative addition of azithromycin at the time of physical exam indicated cerclage placement.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Cefazolin and indomethacin

Perioperative standard of care with cefazolin and indomethacin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Pregnant women with singleton pregnancies
• ≥18 years old
• Estimated gestational age less than 24 weeks
• Meet criteria for an exam indicated cerclage
• Patients must also be able to provide consent, demonstrate an understanding of the purpose of the study, and agree to the study protocol.

Exclusion Criteria

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive status
• Known prolonged QT syndrome
• Major fetal congenital anomalies
• Temperature of 100.4 F or higher
• Prior cerclage during the current pregnancy
• Contraindication to indomethacin
• Allergy to both penicillin and clindamycin
• Received indomethacin or any antibiotics within 7 days before their presentation

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 80 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Thomas Jefferson University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Jenani S Jayakumaran, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Thomas Jefferson University

Rupsa Boelig, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Thomas Jefferson University

Locations

Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson

New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Rupsa Boelig, MD

Role: CONTACT

Rupsa.boelig@jefferson.edu

2159555000

Facility Contacts

Emily Miller, MD

Role: primary

Justin Brandt, MD

Role: primary

References

Jayakumaran JS, Khanuja K, Fischer SA, Miller ES, Rosenfeld EB, Brandt JS, Piacquadio M, Kalifeh A, Boelig RC. Azithromycin to improve latency in exam-indicated cerclage: A multicenter randomized controlled trial (ALEC). Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2025 Oct 22:101818. doi: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2025.101818. Online ahead of print.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 41135925 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

21D.746

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id