Prophylactic Intrapartum Antibiotics and Immunological Markers for Postpartum Morbidity in HIV Positive Women

Postpartum infections are among the leading causes of maternal mortality world-wide, particularly in under-resourced countries. Available data suggests that HIV infected women are at greater risk of postpartum complications than uninfected women. In South Africa, HIV/AIDS and related infections are now cumulatively the leading causes of maternal deaths (though indirectly), with puerperal sepsis among the 5 most common causes. This was a prospective longitudinal cohort of HIV infected (n = 675) and uninfected (n = 648) women. These were women in whom vaginal delivery was anticipated, and were recruited at \> 36 weeks of gestation during the antenatal period. Hypothesis - HIV infected women are at increased risk of postpartum infectious morbidity and this morbidity can be reduced by use of prophylactic intrapartum antibiotics.