Inadvertent Fetal Exposure to Antibiotics During Unplanned Pregnancies

Mean gestational duration of the delivered babies was 38.9 ± 2.2 weeks, and mean birth weight was 3405 ± 677 g (range, 1,200 – 5,500 g). Two children were born prematurely at 31 and 35 weeks, with birth weights of 1,200 and 2,300 g, respectively. The baby born at 31 weeks had been exposed to ciprofloxacin, maternal smoking, and multiple x-rays in utero. The other preterm baby had been exposed to gentamicin and nitrofuratoin.

Of the spontaneous abortions, two women had been treated with ciprofloxacin, one woman was treated with ofloxacin, one woman was treated with gentamicin+sulbactam/ampicillin+methenamine, and one woman was treated with ofoxacin+methenamine.

Of the unhealthy babies, a renal anomaly occurred in a baby exposed to ciprofloxacin+gentamicin+methenamine, an atrial septal defect occurred in a baby exposed to methenamine, and congenital hypothyroidism occurred in a baby exposed to ciprofloxacin+nitrofurantoin.