Premature rupture of the membranes: maternal and neonatal infectious morbidity related to betamethasone and antibiotic therapy.

A retrospective study of patients delivering in 1976-77 at Duke University Medical Center was performed to assess the impact of betamethasone and prophylactic antibiotics on infectious morbidity in mothers with premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) at 26 to 34 weeks' gestation and in their neonates. Ninety-five records were reviewed for evidence of maternal and neonatal infection and perinatal mortality. Betamethasone had no impact on maternal or neonatal infection. Antibiotics given concurrently with betamethasone significantly reduced the incidence of maternal and/or neonatal infection (18.0% vs. 0). Perinatal mortality increased when the duration of the latent period was 72 hours and greater because of factors other than infection.