Using azithromycin to prevent infections after cesarean deliveries

Adjunctive Azithromycin Prophylaxis for Scheduled/Prelabor Cesarean Delivery

NIH-funded research George Washington University · NIH-11037929

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.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionGeorge Washington University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Washington, United States)
Project IDNIH-11037929 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the effectiveness of adding azithromycin to standard antibiotic treatment for women undergoing scheduled or pre-labor cesarean deliveries. The study will randomly assign up to 8000 participants to receive either azithromycin or a placebo before surgery, alongside standard prophylactic antibiotics. The goal is to determine if this combination can significantly reduce the risk of post-surgical infections while monitoring for any potential safety concerns for newborns. Participants will be followed for six weeks to assess infection rates and outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are women scheduled for a cesarean delivery who are willing to participate in a clinical trial.

Not a fit: Patients who are not undergoing a cesarean delivery or those with contraindications to azithromycin will not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a significant reduction in post-cesarean infections, improving maternal health outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that azithromycin can effectively reduce infections in unscheduled cesarean deliveries, suggesting potential success in this context as well.

Where this research is happening

Washington, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.