erythromycin in pregnancy

Last edited 02/2021 and last reviewed 02/2021

  • in a nationwide cohort study (of 1192539 live birth pregnancies, pregnancies during which macrolides had been used (13019) were compared with those during which penicillin (that is, phenoxymethylpenicillin) had been used (matched in a 1:1 ratio on propensity scores))
    • use of macrolide antibiotics in pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of major birth defects. Analyses of the associated risk of 12 specific subgroups of birth defects with the use of macrolides in pregnancy were not significant.

Reference:

  • Andersson NW et al. Association between use of macrolides in pregnancy and risk of major birth defects: nationwide, register based cohort study.BMJ 2021;372:n107http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n107