HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by SCHWARZ, R. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by SCHWARZ, R. H.

Considerations of Antibiotic Therapy During Pregnancy

From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine, Brooklyn, New York

Abstract

The use of antibiotics in pregnancy requires that the clinician consider both toxicity to and pharmacokinetics for mother and fetus. Although most adverse reactions to antibiotics in the adult are not modified by pregnancy, those to tetracycline and erythromycin estolate are the exceptions. Tetracycline is contraindicated throughout pregnancy because of fetal effects, whereas sulfa preparations, trimethoprim, and chloramphenicol are contraindicated only at specific times during gestation. The pharmacokinetics of antibiotics in the mother are such that lower serum concentrations are achieved for a given dose, which may be important in serious or resistant infections. Fetal kinetics are such that transfer to amniotic fluid and distribution within the fetus may not provide adequate protection for the fetus in cases of chorioamnionitis.