There are compelling reasons to link infection with preterm labour – the major challenge in perinatal medicine. Findings will be presented of (1) a systematic overview of all trials of any antibiotic treatment during pregnancy, for any reason (2) a randomised trial of routine antibiotic prophylaxis in a rural community in Central Africa with very high rates of preterm birth and heavy burden of infection. The association of infection and preterm labour may be more complicated than often thought.