Management of preterm prelabour rupture of membranes: An audit. How do the results compare with clinical practice guidelines?

Abstract

Background: Preterm prelabour rupture of membranes is a common clinical event. It is associated with infection in approximately 50% of cases. Clinical practice guidelines have been developed at the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia for investigation and management of this condition. Aim: To perform an audit of management of women presenting with this diagnosis and assess how inpatient management compares with the Hospital's current clinical practice guideline and how the clinical practice guideline compares with the evidence in the literature. Methods: Retrospective audit over a 3-month period collecting data on maternal age, gestation, microbiological results, other investigation..