Health Library

Treatments for Infection in Pregnancy

The type of treatment depends on the kind of infection you have. Infections caused by bacteria will be treated with antibiotics. Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics that are safe to use during pregnancy. If you have a viral infection, such as herpes or hepatitis, your doctor will give you antiviral medicines. For some infections, particularly viral like CMV and fifth disease, there is no medicine available. In these cases, your doctor will carefully monitor your health and the health of your developing baby.

Treatment options include:

References:

American Academy of Family Physicians. Herpes during pregnancy: What you should know. American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/760.xml. Accessed September 13, 2005.

American Academy of Family Physicians. Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy. American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/180.xml. Accessed September 13, 2005.

American Pregnancy Association. Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at: http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/bacter...vaginosis-2.html. Accessed September 13, 2005.

American Pregnancy Association. Listeria and pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyh...th/listeria.html. Accessed September 13, 2005.

American Pregnancy Association. Urinary tract infection during pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications...iduringpreg.html. Accessed September 2, 2005.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/cmv.htm. Accessed September 10, 2005.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines 2002. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/1-2002TG.htm...ecialPopulations. Accessed September 5, 2005.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. STDs and pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/STDFact-STDs&Pregnancy.htm#test. Accessed September 5, 2005.

Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Chorioamnionitis. Cleveland Clinic Foundation website. Available at: http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3800/3....asp?index=12309. Accessed September 13, 2005.

Hepatitis B Foundation. Pregnancy. Hepatitis B Foundation website. Available at: http://www.hepb.org/patients/pregnant_women.htm. Accessed September 13, 2005.

Lexi-PALS. Amoxicillin. EBSCO Health Library, Lexi-PALS website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/healthLibrary/. Updated September 23, 2010. Accessed November 15, 2010.

Lexi-PALS. Cefazolin. EBSCO Health Library, Lexi-PALS website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/healthLibrary/. Updated March 9, 2010. Accessed November 12, 2010.

Lexi-PALS. Clindamycin. EBSCO Health Library, Lexi-PALS website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/healthLibrary/. Updated March 23, 2010. Accessed November 15, 2010.

Lexi-PALS. Erythromycin. EBSCO Health Library, Lexi-PALS website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/healthLibrary/. Updated March 23, 2010. Accessed November 15, 2010.

March of Dimes. Chickenpox (varicella). March of Dimes website. Available at: http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/188_675.asp. Accessed September 2, 2005.

March of Dimes. Cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy. March of Dimes website. Available at: http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/681_1195.asp. Accessed September 5, 2005.

March of Dimes. Rubella. March of Dimes website. Available at: http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/188_673.asp. Accessed September 2, 2005.

Mayo Clinic. Group B strep: How to protect your baby. MayoClinic website. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=PR00079. Accessed September 13, 2005.

National Center for Infectious Diseases. Group B streptococcal disease (GBS). National Center for Infectious Diseases website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/groupbstrep_g.htm. Accessed September 13, 2005.

National Center for Infectious Diseases. Parvovirus B19 infection and pregnancy. National Center for Infectious Diseases website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/respiratory/B19&preg.htm. Accessed September 13, 2005.

Nielsen GL, Sorensen HT, Larsen H, Pedersen L. Risk of adverse birth outcome and miscarriage in pregnant users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: population based observation study and case-control study. BMJ. 2001;322:266-270.

Last reviewed September 2012 by Andrea Chisholm

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Health Library

Treatments for Infection in Pregnancy

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