Infants with low-risk deliveries may not need antibiotics at birth: Study - Hindustan Times

A team of researchers has found that infants born through uncomplicated caesarean delivery, without labour or membrane rupture before delivery and no concern for infection, should not need antibiotics at birth.

"However, our study shows that it is safe to withhold antibiotics in infants, including those born preterm, with low-risk delivery characteristics.

A total of 41 infants had confirmed cases of EOS; none of the infected patients were born in the setting of a low-risk delivery.

There was no difference between the low risk and non-low risk groups in the proportion of infants who received prolonged antibiotics, suggesting that clinicians did not appreciate or account for the lower risk of infection and stop antibiotics in the absence of confirmed infection.

"Our study shows that a well-defined subset of these infants should not need antibiotics, and clinicians can use delivery characteristics as a guide to prevent unnecessary antibiotic use and avoid potential complications of treatment," Dr Flannery added.