PLoS ONE (Jan 2013)

Prevalence and predictors of antibiotic administration during pregnancy and birth.

  • Jakob Stokholm,
  • Susanne Schjørring,
  • Louise Pedersen,
  • Anne Louise Bischoff,
  • Nilofar Følsgaard,
  • Charlotte G Carson,
  • Bo L K Chawes,
  • Klaus Bønnelykke,
  • Anne Mølgaard,
  • Karen A Krogfelt,
  • Hans Bisgaard

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0082932
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 12
p. e82932

Abstract

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BackgroundAntibiotic treatment during pregnancy and birth is very common. In this study, we describe the estimated prevalence of antibiotic administration during pregnancy and birth in the COPSAC2010 pregnancy cohort, and analyze dependence on social and lifestyle-related factors.Methods706 pregnant women from the novel unselected Copenhagen Prospective Study on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC2010) pregnancy cohort participated in this analysis. Detailed information on oral antibiotic prescriptions during pregnancy filled at the pharmacy was obtained and verified longitudinally. Information on intrapartum antibiotics, social, and lifestyle-factors was obtained by personal interviews.ResultsThe prevalence of antibiotic use was 37% during pregnancy and 33% intrapartum. Lower maternal age at birth; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.94, 95% CI, [0.90-0.98], p = 0.003 and maternal smoking; aOR 1.97, 95% CI, [1.07-3.63], p = 0.030 were associated with use of antibiotics for urinary tract infection during pregnancy. Maternal educational level (low vs. high), aOR 2.32, 95% CI, [1.24-4.35], p = 0.011, maternal asthma; aOR 1.99, 95% CI, [1.33-2.98], p ConclusionAntibiotic administration during pregnancy and birth may be influenced by social and lifestyle-factors. Understanding such risk factors may guide preventive strategies in order to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics.