Role of intrapartum antibiotics in prevention of vertical transmission of neonatal sepsis

The present study evaluates the role of prophylactic intrapartum antibiotic s in the prevention of neonatal sepsis. Labour and delivery characteristics of 1478 women delivering at the Nehru Hospital, PGIMER, Chandigarh were re corded. Intrapartum antibiotics (ampicillin, with or without gentamycin) we re given to 69 per cent women. The neonatal sepsis rate was 1.56 per cent. This was not significantly lower in the women who received intrapartum anti biotics (1.47 vs 1.75%). Though there was a lowering of neonatal sepsis rat e with intrapartum antibiotic administration when the duration of labour wa s more than 12 h (1.67 vs 3.09%), duration of ruptured membranes was more t han 6 h (1.93 vs 3.81%) and number of pelvic examination was 3 or more (1.6 3 vs 4.54%), it was not statistically significant. It was concluded that in trapartum antibiotics as per the existing protocol did not prevent neonatal sepsis.