Is Cefitin (Cefuroxime) safe during breastfeeding?

From the Guidelines

Ceftin (cefuroxime) is generally considered safe during breastfeeding, as human data indicate that it is not teratogenic at usual therapeutic doses and is classified as compatible with breastfeeding 1.

Key Points to Consider

• Ceftin passes into breast milk in small amounts, but the levels are typically too low to cause significant effects in most nursing infants.
• Potential concerns include the possibility of altering the infant's gut flora, causing diarrhea, or triggering allergic reactions, though these are uncommon.
• If your infant develops diarrhea, thrush, or a rash while you're taking Ceftin, contact your healthcare provider.
• Cefuroxime is a second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic that treats bacterial infections by inhibiting cell wall synthesis in bacteria.
• The medication is poorly absorbed orally by infants, which further reduces the risk of adverse effects.

Recommendations

• Continue breastfeeding normally while taking this medication, as the benefits of breastfeeding generally outweigh any potential minimal risks from the antibiotic exposure.
• Monitor your infant for any signs of adverse effects, such as diarrhea, thrush, or rash, and consult your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.
• Note that most systemic antibiotics, including Ceftin, may cause falsely negative cultures in febrile infants or produce gastroenteritis due to alteration of intestinal flora 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

Nursing Mothers: Since cefuroxime is excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Cefuroxime for Injection is administered to a nursing woman.

• Ceftin safety in breastfeeding: The FDA drug label recommends caution when administering Ceftin to a nursing woman, as it is excreted in human milk 2.
• Key consideration: The label does not provide explicit information on the safety of Ceftin in breastfeeding, only that caution should be exercised.
• Clinical decision: Due to the lack of clear information, it is recommended to exercise caution when using Ceftin in breastfeeding women.

From the Research

Safety of Ceftin in Breastfeeding

• There is no direct evidence in the provided studies regarding the safety of Ceftin (cefuroxime) in breastfeeding.
• However, a study published in 2005 3 evaluated the safety of cefuroxime during lactation and found that the rate of adverse effects in the cefuroxime group (2.6%) was not significantly different from that in controls (9%).
• Another study published in 2016 4 stated that most antibiotics in clinical use are considered suitable during breastfeeding, but the pharmacokinetic profile of each drug must be observed to ensure the resolution of the maternal infection and the safety of the infant.
• A study from 1996 5 suggested that the use of drugs with short half-lives minimizes the risk of accumulation, and ceftriaxone has a half-life of 7.25 hours, but it does not provide information on Ceftin specifically.
• General guidelines for breastfeeding and medication use are provided in studies from 2011 6 and 2015 7, but they do not specifically address Ceftin.