Abstract
Objective
To investigate the association between exposure to topical ophthalmic antibiotics during pregnancy and adverse neonatal outcomes.
Methods
In this retrospective cohort study, we identified pregnant women with hordeola, chalazia, blepharitis, or bacterial conjunctivitis from 2005 to 2018 using the Japanese Medical Data Centre Claims Database. From the eligible women, we extracted women who were dispensed no topical antibiotics during the first trimester (non-antibiotic group), women who were dispensed topical fluoroquinolones alone at least once (fluoroquinolone alone group), and women who were dispensed any single type of antibiotic (single-antibiotic group). We compared the frequency of congenital anomalies (CA), preterm birth (PB), low birth weight (LBW), and the composite outcome of these three between the fluoroquinolone and non-antibiotic groups and between the single-antibiotic and non-antibiotic groups, using propensity score adjustment.
Results
A total of 891 eligible women were identified. In the fluoroquinolone (n = 409) and non-antibiotic (n = 309) groups, CA occurred in 6.8% and 6.8%, PB in 2.4% and 3.2%, LBW in 2.9% and 3.2%, and the composite outcome in 10.5% and 11.3%, respectively. Analysis using propensity score adjustment showed no significant difference between the groups in the frequency of CA (adjusted odds ratio, 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 0.61–2.18), PB (0.80; 0.30–2.17), LBW (1.08; 0.45–2.63), or the composite outcome (1.12; 0.67–1.87). Comparison of the single-antibiotic and non-antibiotic groups showed similar results.
Conclusions
Topical ophthalmic antibiotics for hordeola, chalazia, blepharitis, or bacterial conjunctivitis during the first trimester were not associated with increased adverse neonatal outcomes.
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Funding
This work was supported by grants from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan (19AA2007) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (20H03907 and 17H05077). The sponsor or funding organization had no role in the design or conduct of this research.
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YH had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: YH, H Yamana, DS, KM, H Yasunaga, and MA. Acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data: YH, H Yamana, HM, and H Yasunaga. Drafting of the manuscript: YH, NM, H Yamana, DS, H Yasunaga, and MA. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: YH. Statistical analysis: YH, H Yamana, DS, KM, and H Yasunaga. Obtained funding: H Yamana. Administrative, technical, or material support: None. Study supervision: H Yasunaga and MA.
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Hashimoto, Y., Michihata, N., Yamana, H. et al. Safety of topical ophthalmic antibiotics in pregnant women with hordeola, chalazia, blepharitis, or bacterial conjunctivitis: propensity score analyses. Eye 36, 1066–1073 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-021-01586-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-021-01586-y
