Adding azithromycin before a planned cesarean to lower infection risk
Official title: Adjunctive Azithromycin Prophylaxis for Scheduled/Prelabor Cesarean Delivery
Funded at George Washington University · NIH-11309992 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Giving azithromycin along with the usual antibiotic to people having a scheduled C-section to lower the chance of infections after delivery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,364,833 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HD114634-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11309992 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people scheduled for a pre-labor (planned) cesarean delivery who can receive IV antibiotics would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People having unscheduled or emergency cesareans, those allergic to azithromycin, or those not eligible for IV antibiotics may not be included or directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
You would be randomly assigned to receive either a single IV dose of 500 mg azithromycin or a matching placebo just before your planned cesarean, and everyone will also get the standard cefazolin (or an alternative if allergic). Up to 8,000 pregnant people will be enrolled across Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units and followed for six weeks after delivery using CDC guidelines for surgical-site infections. Researchers will monitor maternal infections, neonatal outcomes, and possible effects on the baby's microbiome and longer-term health. The team aims to see if the added antibiotic prevents infections after scheduled C-sections while carefully tracking any safety concerns for mother and baby.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower maternal post-cesarean infections and related complications after planned C-sections.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier randomized work showed adding azithromycin reduced infections by about half after unscheduled C-sections and led ACOG to recommend it for those cases, but evidence for routine use in scheduled cesareans is still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
George Washington University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clifton, Rebecca Gersnoviez — George Washington University
- Study coordinator: Clifton, Rebecca Gersnoviez
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Using azithromycin to prevent infections after cesarean deliveries
This study is looking at whether adding a common antibiotic called azithromycin to the usual antibiotics given before a cesarean delivery can help prevent infections after surgery, and it’s for women who are having a scheduled or pre-labor cesarean.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.