According to a new report issued on November 4th 2009, there is a link between selected urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment drugs and birth defects, in cases where these antibiotics are taken by women during the very early stages of pregnancy. Published by the Archives of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, the report highlighted a birth defect risk associated with two generic types of these drugs - sulphonamide (marketed as Bactrim), along with nitrofurantoins (marketed as Macrobid).

On the positive side, however, no birth defect risk was found in terms of erythromycins and penicillins, and these are the antibiotics that are given to pregnant women with UTIs most often, as one of the researchers involved in the report explained. "Most of the commonly used antibiotics do not seem to be associated with most of the birth defects we studied", Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention representative Doctor Krista S. Crider advised news agency Reuters. She added: "This should be helpful for pregnant women and their health care provider as they're trying to make decisions on treatment of infections during pregnancy."

Urinary Tract Infection Antibiotics

Pregnant women can develop serious and threatening bacterial infections, and the need for treatment in these situations is, therefore, vital. According to those behind the report including Dr. Crider, however, their research into the potential risks associated with urinary tract infection antibiotics used to treat pregnant women with infections is unprecedented.

The study that preceded the report involved approximately 18,000 pregnant participants, of which over 13,000 had given birth to babies with birth defects (the remainder's children were completely free from defects). In both groups, the number of women who had been generally prescribed an antibiotic represented around 30 per cent of the total number. However, the point at which about 14 per cent of the birth defect collective had taken antibiotics took place during a two-month period starting one month prior to becoming pregnant (so lasting one month into the initial trimester) - a period considered vital in terms of foetal development. The same was true of 13 per cent of the non-birth defect mothers.

Antibiotics: Birth Defects

It was noted that sulphonamides could be associated with six various forms of birth defects, and thatnitrofurantoins could be associated with four. Other antibiotics, meanwhile, could only be linked to a couple of birth defects at the most.

Doctor Crider, however, stressed that the team's research need not strike fear into the hearts of all pregnant women prescribed these antibiotics. To put it in perspective, the number of women who produced babies with birth defects and who had taken penicillin was four-out-of-a-thousand. "Those are some pretty low numbers", she emphasised, adding: "It's important to realise that in every pregnancy, regardless of any medication use, there's a three per cent chance of a birth defect."

The doctor concluded that additional research is a must prior to be able to label certain antibiotics taken during pregnancy as risk-free or not. Pharmaceutical International will provide further coverage on this issue as and when future facts emerge.

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