Study fuels anxiety

BRITISH research linking the use of certain types of antibiotics during pregnancy with an increased risk of birth defects, could “unnecessarily fuel anxiety in pregnant women”, and Australian obstetrician and gynaecologist believes.

Commenting on data published in the BMJ linking the use of marolide antibiotics, including erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin, during pregnancy, with an increased risk of birth Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Queensland, Gino Percoraro, flagged concerns over the findings.

“Data dredging of databases involving large numbers of pregnant women is being used to look for an association between common medical treatments and adverse pregnancy effects,” he said.

“These observational type studies are not sufficiently powered to prove causation and can unnecessarily fuel anxiety in pregnant women and sometimes even lead to denial of what can be important treatment options.

“The difficulty separating association from causation is a wellknown challenge when undertaking medical research and this research is no different.

“The study [released yesterday], suggests a link between pregnant women having been prescribed a particular class of antibiotics and significant congenital anomalies in their babies.

“It found that first trimester exposure was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular anomalies and exposure during the second or third trimester associated with an increased risk of genital anomalies.

“The macrolide class of antibiotics is important because they frequently used to treat women who are allergic to penicillin and sometimes the only class of drugs that particular bacteria are sensitive to or that are recommended by professional bodies.

“Until further research clarifies this question, women and doctors should observe what has always been best practice when it comes to the prescription of medication including antibiotics, during pregnancy.

“The benefits of using a drug should be weighed against the risks to the mother and developing baby of not providing treatment and where a safer and available alternative exists, that drug should be preferred.”