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Penicillin and several other antibacterial medications commonly taken by pregnant women do not appear to be associated with many birth defects, according to a new report.
However, the same report found that other antibiotics, such as sulfonamides and nitrofurantoins, may be associated with several severe birth defects and require additional scrutiny.
The report followed a study in which doctors analysed data from 13,155 women whose pregnancies were affected by one of more than 30 birth defects.
The information was collected by surveillance programmes in 10 US states as part of the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. The researchers compared antibacterial use before and during pregnancy between these women and 4,941 randomly selected control women who lived in the same geographical regions but whose babies did not have birth defects.
Antibacterial use among all women increased during pregnancy, peaking during the third month. A total of 3,863 mothers of children with birth defects (29.4 per cent) and 1,467 control mothers (29.7 per cent) used antibacterials sometime between three months before pregnancy and the end of pregnancy.
"Reassuringly, penicillins, erythromycins and cephalosporins, although used commonly by pregnant women, were not associated with many birth defects," the authors stated.
Two defects were associated with erythromycins, one with penicillins, one with cephalosporins and one with quinolones.
However, two medications - sulfonamides and nitrofurantoins - were associated with several birth defects, suggesting that additional research is needed before they can be safely prescribed to pregnant women.
"Determining the causes of birth defects is problematic," the authors added.
"A single defect can have multiple causes, or multiple seemingly unrelated defects may have a common cause. This study could not determine the safety of drugs during pregnancy, but the lack of widespread increased risk associated with many classes of antibacterials used during pregnancy should be reassuring."
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
What else can I help you with?
How do you use penicillin in a sentence?
Penicillin is a mold. It is also the antibiotic made from this mold. You use it as medication for infection. Here are some sentences.My doctor prescribed penicillin for my infection.Does your pharmacy have penicillin tablets in stock?My class is growing penicillin mold in the laboratory.
How is penicillin carried to the side of the infection?
Penicillin is carried to the site of infection via blood flow. You have different types of penicillin are there for the same.
Does penicillin interfere with the effectiveness of birth control?
Yes, penicillin can interfere with the effectiveness of birth control, potentially reducing its effectiveness and increasing the risk of pregnancy. It is recommended to use additional contraceptive methods while taking penicillin to prevent pregnancy.
Is penicillin for a virus?
No. Penicillin will have no effect at all on a viral infection.
Could your period be late if you are taking penicillin for a throat infection?
Yes. Ive Recently had a throat infection as well and was put on penicillin two 500gm capsules twice a day for 12 days. My period was late by 9 days because of it despite pregnancy tests being negative
Why should you not use penicillin to cure a cold?
you should not use penicillin to cure a cold because penicillin is an antibiotic and your body could build a resistant up to it and when you really do become sick you will not be able to use penicillin to cure and actual infection. Also if you are prescribed an antibiotic and you do not take the whole amount prescribed you could still carry the infection dormit in your body and your illness could return resistant to the antibiotic that was prescribed.
Can penicillin cause UTI?
Penicillin is an antibiotic taken to prevent an infection, not cause it.
Can penicillin affect the effectiveness of birth control?
Yes, penicillin can potentially reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. It is recommended to use additional contraceptive methods while taking penicillin to prevent unintended pregnancy.
Can penicillin cause yeast infection?
Yes as it kills the infection the yeast multiplies.
When should penicillin be given to horses?
A horse should be given penicillin when a veterinarian determines the horse has a bacterial infection that will respond to the penicillin.
Will a bleach bath help get rid a staph infection?
Definitely not recommended; use an antibiotic like penicillin or amoxisilin
Can I take penicillin while pregnant for tonsillitis?
Penicillin is generally considered safe for use during pregnancy, and it is often prescribed to pregnant women for the treatment of bacterial infections, including tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is typically caused by a bacterial infection, and antibiotics like penicillin are effective in treating such infections. However, the decision to prescribe medication during pregnancy is based on a careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks. It's important to inform your healthcare provider about your pregnancy and any other medications or conditions you may have. Additionally, different forms of penicillin and other antibiotics may be used, and the choice of antibiotic can depend on factors such as the specific bacteria causing the infection and your individual health circumstances. My Recommendation No Cap-𝕓𝕚𝕥.𝕝𝕪/𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕒𝕜𝟝
