Treating silent urinary bacteria during pregnancy to reduce low birth weight
A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Impact of Treatment of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria on Low Birth Weight
Researchers will give antibiotics to pregnant people who have bacteria in their urine but no symptoms to try to lower the chance their baby is born with low birth weight.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Triangle Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Research Triangle Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195593 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join while pregnant you'll provide urine samples and, if bacteria are found, you'll be randomly assigned to receive antibiotics or usual care. The team will follow you through delivery and record your baby's birth weight and any serious maternal or newborn complications. The trial is being run at clinics in low- and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh, to see whether treating asymptomatic bacteriuria lowers rates of low birth weight. Local clinicians and maternal-fetal specialists from an experienced global research network will oversee care and data collection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant people at participating clinics in LMICs who test positive for bacteria in their urine but do not have urinary symptoms.
Not a fit: People without bacteria in their urine, those already needing antibiotics for urinary symptoms, or those unable to attend participating clinics are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, treating asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy could lower rates of low birth weight and reduce serious maternal and newborn infections.
How similar studies have performed: Observational studies link asymptomatic bacteriuria to low birth weight and prior trials show antibiotics can prevent maternal kidney infections, but randomized evidence specifically showing reduced low birth weight in LMICs is limited.
Where this research is happening
Research Triangle Park, United States
- Research Triangle Institute — Research Triangle Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcclure, Elizabeth M — Research Triangle Institute
- Study coordinator: Mcclure, Elizabeth M
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 below.