Principles of Anti-infective Dosing in Pregnancy.
Anti-infectives are among the most commonly prescribed medications in pregnancy. However, detailed information on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of these medications in pregnancy is limited, leading to uncertainty among clinicians regarding the tolerability and efficacy of treatments. The purposes of this review were to highlight key physiologic changes during pregnancy that influence drug behavior, and to discuss areas of active research related to anti-infective drugs in pregnancy.



A review of literature in PubMed was performed for topics related to physiologic changes of pregnancy, postcesarean surgical site infections, vaccines in pregnancy, and intrauterine infections. The literature was reviewed and pertinent sources were utilized for this article.



Physiologic changes during pregnancy may impact drug disposition and efficacy. Cefazolin regimens are the current prophylactic treatment of choice for postcesarean surgical site infections. Vaccines are provided in pregnancy for both maternal and neonatal benefit. Broad-spectrum antibiotics continue to be used as first-line therapy for intrauterine infections.



Continued efforts to broaden the knowledge base on anti-infective drug behavior in pregnancy will result in increased therapeutic options for this population.
Center for Personalized Obstetric Medicine, Valley Perinatal Services, Phoenix, Arizona; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana. Electronic address: avipatil@iupui.edu.
Avinash S
AS
Patil
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
Jessica S
JS
Sheng
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Sarah K
SK
Dotters-Katz
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Maria S
MS
Schmoll
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Mitchell L
ML
Onslow
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D014612:Vaccines
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D014612:Vaccines
antibiotics; pharmacokinetics; pregnancy; vaccines