title: The safety of quinolones in pregnancy.
abstract: Quinolones and fluoroquinolones are highly efficient antibiotics. However, concerns regarding possible harmful effects have limited their use during pregnancy. Nevertheless, accumulating clinical data suggest that they may be safe during pregnancy. This review aimed to explore the mechanisms of action of the quinolones and fluoroquinolones, which set the stage for concerns regarding possible teratogenic and mutagenic effects; to clarify the clinical dilemmas that brought forth the necessity in reevaluating the use of those medications during pregnancy; and to review the accumulated data regarding their safety during pregnancy in animal models and humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel.
authors.forename: Enav
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yefet
authors.affiliation: Labor and Delivery Unit, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel; Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Raed
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salim
authors.affiliation: Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel; Infectious Disease Unit, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel; Infectious Disease Unit, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel.
authors.forename: Bibiana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chazan
authors.affiliation: The Pharmacology Unit, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel.
authors.forename: Hiba
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akel
authors.affiliation: Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel; Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel.
authors.forename: Shabtai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Fetal Medicine Service, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel.
authors.forename: Zohar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nachum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000139:chemically induced; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009153:Mutagens; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000139:chemically induced; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000187:drug effects*; D015363:Quinolones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D013723:Teratogens
chemical_list: D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D009153:Mutagens; D015363:Quinolones; D013723:Teratogens