Prevention of Perinatal Sepsis (PoPS): Evaluation of Chlorhexidine Wipes of Birth Canal and Newborn

Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether use of the disinfectant chlorhexidine administered to the birth canal during labour and newborn at delivery can protect a woman and her baby from bacterial infections after birth. If effective, this could be used as an inexpensive alternative to antibiotics to prevent newborn infections in resource-poor countries.

Timeline

Start

2004-04

Primary completion

—

Completion

2007-11

Publications

• Background Christensen KK, Christensen P, Dykes AK, Kahlmeter G. Chlorhexidine for prevention of neonatal colonization with group B streptococci. III. Effect of vaginal washing with chlorhexidine before rupture of the membranes. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1985 Apr;19(4):231-6. doi: 10.1016/0028-2243(85)90034-6.
• Background Taha TE, Biggar RJ, Broadhead RL, Mtimavalye LA, Justesen AB, Liomba GN, Chiphangwi JD, Miotti PG. Effect of cleansing the birth canal with antiseptic solution on maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality in Malawi: clinical trial. BMJ. 1997 Jul 26;315(7102):216-9; discussion 220. doi: 10.1136/bmj.315.7102.216.
• Background Kollee LA, Speyer I, van Kuijck MA, Koopman R, Dony JM, Bakker JH, Wintermans RG. Prevention of group B streptococci transmission during delivery by vaginal application of chlorhexidine gel. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1989 Apr;31(1):47-51. doi: 10.1016/0028-2243(89)90025-7.
• Background Burman LG, Christensen P, Christensen K, Fryklund B, Helgesson AM, Svenningsen NW, Tullus K. Prevention of excess neonatal morbidity associated with group B streptococci by vaginal chlorhexidine disinfection during labour. The Swedish Chlorhexidine Study Group. Lancet. 1992 Jul 11;340(8811):65-9. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(92)90393-h.
• Background Adriaanse AH, Kollee LA, Muytjens HL, Nijhuis JG, de Haan AF, Eskes TK. Randomized study of vaginal chlorhexidine disinfection during labor to prevent vertical transmission of group B streptococci. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1995 Aug;61(2):135-41. doi: 10.1016/0301-2115(95)02134-s.
• Background Rouse DJ, Hauth JC, Andrews WW, Mills BB, Maher JE. Chlorhexidine vaginal irrigation for the prevention of peripartal infection: a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1997 Mar;176(3):617-22. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9378(97)70557-x.
• Background Stray-Pedersen B, Bergan T, Hafstad A, Normann E, Grogaard J, Vangdal M. Vaginal disinfection with chlorhexidine during childbirth. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 1999 Aug;12(3):245-51. doi: 10.1016/s0924-8579(99)00068-0.
• Background Facchinetti F, Piccinini F, Mordini B, Volpe A. Chlorhexidine vaginal flushings versus systemic ampicillin in the prevention of vertical transmission of neonatal group B streptococcus, at term. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2002 Feb;11(2):84-8. doi: 10.1080/jmf.11.2.84.88.
• Cutland CL, Schrag SJ, Zell ER, Kuwanda L, Buchmann E, Velaphi SC, Groome MJ, Adrian PV, Madhi SA; PoPS trial team. Maternal HIV infection and vertical transmission of pathogenic bacteria. Pediatrics. 2012 Sep;130(3):e581-90. doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-1548. Epub 2012 Aug 6.
• Schrag SJ, Cutland CL, Zell ER, Kuwanda L, Buchmann EJ, Velaphi SC, Groome MJ, Madhi SA; PoPS Trial Team. Risk factors for neonatal sepsis and perinatal death among infants enrolled in the prevention of perinatal sepsis trial, Soweto, South Africa. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2012 Aug;31(8):821-6. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e31825c4b5a.
• Cutland CL, Madhi SA, Zell ER, Kuwanda L, Laque M, Groome M, Gorwitz R, Thigpen MC, Patel R, Velaphi SC, Adrian P, Klugman K, Schuchat A, Schrag SJ; PoPS Trial Team. Chlorhexidine maternal-vaginal and neonate body wipes in sepsis and vertical transmission of pathogenic bacteria in South Africa: a randomised, controlled trial. Lancet. 2009 Dec 5;374(9705):1909-16. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61339-8. Epub 2009 Oct 19.

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