[Update on current care guidelines: preterm birth].

Prevention of preterm birth includes recognition of infections and other risk factors at outpatient clinics. If a woman presents with imminent preterm labour, 1. maternal corticosteroid prophylaxis should be administered if fewer than 35 gestational weeks have elapsed, 2. broad spectrum antibiotics should be administered if membranes have ruptured, 3. foetal distress and clinical chorioamnionitis should be ruled out, as they indicate immediate delivery. Deliveries less than 30 weeks of pregnancy should be centralised in tertiary units, since this improves the prognosis of newborns. Delivery can be postponed through tocolytic therapy, in order to enable corticosteroid prophylaxis and hospital referral.