Maternal noncompliance with antibiotics during breastfeeding.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of antibiotic prescription failure in breastfeeding women, and to characterize breastfeeding patterns during antibiotic therapy.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study by telephone follow-up of 203 breastfeeding women who were prescribed antibiotics as monotherapy.


METHODS
A teratogen/drug information service (the Motherisk Program) in a tertiary care, pediatric hospital in Toronto, Canada.


METHODS
Number of breastfeeding women who did not initiate the antimicrobial therapy, and breastfeeding patterns during therapy in women who started it.


RESULTS
Of 203 breastfeeding women who consulted the Motherisk Program for information about the safety of antimicrobials during breastfeeding, 125 (62 percent) were followed within 32 weeks (median 11). Nineteen of the 125 (15 percent) did not initiate the antimicrobial therapy. Of the remaining 106 women, 7 (7 percent) stopped breastfeeding during therapy. Despite reassuring advice, 1 in 5 women either did not initiate therapy or did not continue breastfeeding.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians should be aware of the substantial rate of noncompliance with drug regimens among nursing women and the potential negative impact of drug therapy on breastfeeding.
Ito
S
S
University of Toronto, Canada.
Koren
G
G
Einarson
T R
TR
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D015331:Cohort Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016312:Treatment Refusal
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents