Is It Safe To Take Antibiotics When Pregnant?

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Antibiotics are medicines that treat infections caused by bacteria. They act either by killing the bacteria (bactericidal) or making it difficult for the bacteria to grow and multiply (bacteriostatic) (1).  Infection during pregnancy may harm both the mother’s and the growing fetus’s health. Therefore, doctors prescribe antibiotics when their benefits outweigh the combined maternal and fetal risks.

This post gives you an insight into the safe use of antibiotics while pregnant, the ones contraindicated, their side effects, and precautions.

Why Are Antibiotics Prescribed During Pregnancy?

Antibiotics may be prescribed during pregnancy by doctors to treat:

• Severe respiratory or sinus infection
• Urinary tract infection
• Kidney infections
• Bacterial vaginosisⁱ A condition caused by the excess growth of the normal vaginal flora, characterized by increased vaginal discharge with a fishy odor
• Sexually transmitted infections

Antibiotics may also be prescribed for intrapartum fever (fever during childbirth or delivery)

and as preventive medication during cesarean sections (2). Many of these infections could be life-threatening during pregnancy if left untreated. They may also increase the risk of congenital malformationsⁱA structural or functional abnormality present from birth in the newborn.

Is It Safe to Take Antibiotics When Pregnant?

Studies have shown some antibiotics to be safe during pregnancy, while some may have potential adverse effects on the mother or fetus. The safety may also depend on the dose, duration of antibiotic treatment, and gestational ageⁱ A term used to measure the length of the pregnancy from the first day of the last period until childbirth . Additionally, metabolic and immunological changes during pregnancy may change the behavior of drugs inside the body and impact antibiotic therapy (3). Therefore, you should take antibiotics only when prescribed by the doctor.

Research finds

Antibiotic intake during pregnancy can have undesired effects on the mother and fetus’s microbial environment (13).

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Which Antibiotics Are Safe To Take During Pregnancy?

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established a pregnancy risk categorization (A, B, C, D, and X) system in 1979. Drugs that may be used during pregnancy belong to category A (No risk in human studies) and category B (Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a fetal risk and adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women are not available).

According to these classifications, the following classes of antibiotics are considered safe during pregnancy (3).

• Penicillins and their newer derivatives are most widely prescribed during pregnancy. A few common ones include Ampicillin, Amoxicillin, and their combinations with Clavulanate and Sulbactam. They are grouped under FDA pregnancy category B.

• Cephalosporins (Ceftriaxone and Ceftaroline) are category B drugs and are considered a first-line option in pregnant women. They may be used in patients allergic or intolerant to penicillin therapy. Cephalosporin combinations (Ceftolozane-Tazobactam, and Ceftazidime-Avibactam) may be used with caution as published data about safety during pregnancy is inadequate.

• Carbapenems (Ertapenem, Meropenem, and Doripenem) are category B drugs. They are generally reserved for pregnant women with penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant infections with limited alternatives.

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• Macrolide antibiotics are category B drugs, and the common ones are Azithromycin and Erythromycin. Erythromycin may be used during pregnancy for preventing Group B streptococcal infection in the newborn. However, some forms, such as erythromycin estolate, should be avoided (4).

• Other antibiotics considered pregnancy-safe (category B) are Vancomycin, Daptomycin, Fidaxomicin, Fosfomycin, and Nitrofurantoin.

Research finds

A population-based study demonstrated that pregnant women who took nitrofurantoin and cephalosporins were at a higher risk of fetal congenital disabilities compared to women who took penicillin exclusively (14).

Which Antibiotics Are Not Safe During Pregnancy?

Some antibiotics have shown an increased risk of birth defects in studies. They were assigned category C (Animal reproduction studies have shown fetal adverse effects and well-controlled human studies are inadequate), category D (there is positive evidence of risk), and category X (contraindicated in pregnancy due to established fetal risks).

Below are the classes of antibiotics associated with safety concerns related to use in pregnancy (3) (5).

• Aminoglycosides: Streptomycin (category D) in the first trimester has been related to congenital deafness in infants and should be avoided. Other aminoglycosides (Gentamicin) have not shown many adverse effects and may be used for the short-term under strict medical surveillance.

• Tetracyclines: These category D antibiotics (Doxycycline, Minocycline, and Tigecycline) have proven teratogenicity (harmful for the fetus). They can bind to calcium in the developing fetus, causing permanent discoloration of bones and teeth. Large doses may also lead to maternal liver toxicity.

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• Fluoroquinolones: These consist ofOfloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, and Levofloxacin. Although they are classified as pregnancy category C, they are generally contraindicated in pregnancy. Studies have associated Fluoroquinolones with renal toxicity, cardiac defects, and central nervous system toxicity in the fetus. They may be recommended when there is no alternative.

• Other antibiotics under category B should be used with caution in pregnant women due to the lack of adequate human data confirming their safety. A few examples are below.

1. 1. Monobactams: An example is Aztreonam. It may be used only in patients with a severe penicillin allergy or for whom beta-lactam therapy is contraindicated.
   2. Clindamycin: Vaginal Clindamycin is not recommended as it may increase the risk of neonatal infection and low birth weight.
   3. Daptomycin: It should be used in pregnancy only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
   4. Metronidazole: It is contraindicated in the first trimester of pregnancy. Vaginal use may cause congenital hydrocephalus in babies (fluid build-up in the brain). The drug is recommended for use in bacterial vaginosis and Trichomonas infections in pregnancy, but it may cause preterm birth, although this is not clearly established.

What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Antibiotics?

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The common side effects of antibiotics include (6):

• Rash
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Yeast infections

A serious allergic reaction may occur due to hypersensitivity, usually to Penicillins and Cephalosporins. The symptoms may include wheezing, hives, shortness of breath, and anaphylaxis (it may feel like your throat is closing or choking, or your voice is changing).

What Precautions To Take When Having Antibiotics In Pregnancy?

Antibiotics account for 80% of all prescribed medication in pregnant women (3). Therefore, it is important to be aware of precautions to minimize fetal and maternal toxicity from antibiotics.

• Inform your doctor that you are pregnant before getting treated for any infection. Discuss with your healthcare provider all medications that you are on, including dietary supplements and herbal products.

• Use antibiotics only when prescribed by an obstetrician or medical doctor. The dosage of antibiotics varies for pregnant women. Therefore, self-medication with the usual dose may cause fetal harm and also increase the risk of antibiotic resistance.

• Consult a doctor whenever you suspect that you have an infection. Antibiotics cannot treat viral infections, such as cold and flu. Get a proper diagnosis before taking any antibiotics.

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• Take antibiotics as per the prescribed dosage and course. Do not stop the medication when symptoms subside. Not completing an antibiotic course may cause the recurrence of infection with more severity. It may also lead to drug resistance, compromising your immunity and rendering the antibiotic no longer effective against the bacteria.

Experts say

The US FDA recommends that pregnant women carefully read the drug label before taking any medications and report any side effects to their healthcare provider (14).

What Is The Safest Antibiotic For UTI During Pregnancy?

According to a global survey published in the journal Antibiotics, urinary tract infections (UTIs) were found to be the most common infections requiring antibiotic treatment, accounting for a significant 67.9% of cases. When treating UTI during pregnancy, the choice of antibiotic may vary depending on the specific organism identified in the urine culture. Commonly prescribed include Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Cephalosporins, Nitrofurantoin, and Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole. Some recent findings suggest a link between the use of sulfa derivatives and Nitrofurantoin and congenital disabilities if prescribed in the first trimester.  The most commonly used sulfonamide during pregnancy, Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole, should be avoided in late pregnancy due to the potential risk of the newborn developing kernicterus (brain damage due to high bilirubin in the baby’s blood) (7).

Infographic: Pregnancy-Safe And Unsafe Antibiotics

During pregnancy, it’s crucial to ensure your safety while having medications, including antibiotics. In this infographic, we’ve provided a list of safe and unsafe antibiotics to take during pregnancy. Knowing about these medicines can help you avoid anything harmful; however, it is best to ask your doctor before taking any medicine.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Pregnant and wondering if taking antibiotics is safe? Find out if antibiotics can harm you or your baby and some precautions you should take in this informative video.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Pamela Adhiambo MugaMMed

Dr. Pamela Adhiambo Muga is a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist at the Nairobi Hospital and Willows Clinic for Women. She is registered with the Kenya Medical and Dental Practitioners Council and is a member of the Royal College of Obstetrician Gynecologists UK (MRCOG).

Read full bio of Dr. Pamela Adhiambo Muga

Dr. Joyani DasM.Pharm, PhD

Dr. Joyani Das did her post-graduation from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra and PhD in Pharmacology. Previously, she worked as an associate professor, faculty of Pharmacology, for two years. With her research background in preclinical studies and a zeal for scientific writing, she joined MomJunction as a health writer.

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Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

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Reshmi DasMSc

Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a clinical coordinator, medical content writer and medical conference coordinator. Her continuous interest in medical journals and writing makes her write well-researched articles for MomJunction.

Read full bio of Reshmi Das