Antibiotics and Pregnancy Flashcards
What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are medicines used to kill or stop the growth of microbial life in the body
Orally and liquid
IV IM
Topic
Antibiotics do not work with viral infections
When/why antibiotics are used?
Antibiotics are prescribed during pregnancy and the PN period to treat bacterial infections, e.g:
UTIs:very common in pregnancy
Chorioamnionitis: when the membranes of the sac becomes infected
Throat infections
Women with a positive (high vaginal swab) HVS result
Treatment of STIs (sexually-transmissible infections)
Group B Streptococcus – prophylaxis and/or treatment
Pre-LSCS (or intra-operative)
Post-LSCS: wounds may get infected
Wound infections (LSCS, perineal)
What are antimicrobial agents?
An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial medicines can be grouped according to the microorganisms they act primarily against.
What is the Antimicrobial Stewardship?
Taking care of antibiotics to ensure we use them correctly so that they remain active for future generations
What are some examples of antimicrobial agents?
Antibacterials
(antibiotics)
Penicillins • Flucloxacillin (Flopen, Flucil)
• Amoxycillin + clavulanate (Augmentin, Clamoxyl)
• Piperacillin + tazobactam (Tazocin)
Cephalosporins • Cephalexin (Keflex, Ibilex)
• Cephazolin (Kefzol)
• Ceftriaxone (Rocephin)
Macrolides • Azithromycin (Zithromax)
• Roxithromycin (Rulide)
Antifungals Azoles • Fluconazole (Diflucan)
• Voriconazole (Vfend)
Antivirals Guanine
analogues
• Aciclovir (Zovirax)
• Valaciclovir (Valtrex)
Antiparasitic Nitroimidazoles • Metronidazole (Flagyl)
Categories of antimicrobials?
Antibacterials: against bacteria
Antivirals: against viruses
Antiparasitic agents: aginst parasites
Antifungals: againts fungi
What are broad and narrow spectrum drugs?
Broad spectrum- effective against a wide range of bacteria. Covers both gram +ve and -ve
Narrow spectrum- effective against fewer bacteria
In case of any emergency give women a broad spectrum of antibiotics and then make a full examination and swabs then we can prescribe narrow-spectrum antibiotics
Examples of broad spectrum drugs?
- Amoxicillin
- Cefalexin
- Clarithromycin
Do antimicrobial agents cross the placenta?
All antimicrobial agents cross the placenta
Therefore potential adverse effects are not limited to the mother but extend to the fetus as well.
Examples of narrow spectrum gram +ve drugs?
- Erythromycin
- Benzylpenicillin
- Erythromycin
Examples of narrow spectrum gram -ve drugs?
- Gentamicin
- Aztreonam
- Colistin
Examples of drugs that are safe to use during pregnancy?
Co-amoxiclav, Augmentin®
Erythromycin, Erymax®, Erythrope®, Erythrocin®
Penicillin V
What is antibiotic resistance?
When bacteria develop new ways to defend against
antibiotics, this is called ‘antibiotic resistance’
› Resistance to an antibiotic means the drug is no longer
effective against the infecting bacteria
