Using azithromycin to prevent infections after cesarean deliveries
Official title: Adjunctive Azithromycin Prophylaxis for Scheduled/Prelabor Cesarean Delivery
Funded at George Washington University · NIH-11037929 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $3,341,494 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HD114634-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11037929 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are women scheduled for a cesarean delivery who are willing to participate in a clinical trial.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing a cesarean delivery or those with contraindications to azithromycin will not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
George Washington University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clifton, Rebecca Gersnoviez — George Washington University
- Study coordinator: Clifton, Rebecca Gersnoviez
Related research
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-
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Investigating the long-term effects of azithromycin on childhood obesity and neurodevelopment after cesarean delivery
This study is looking at how giving the antibiotic azithromycin to mothers during childbirth affects their children's growth and brain development, especially for those born by cesarean section, and it compares these kids to others who didn't get the antibiotic to see if there are any long-term effects.
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.