Antiinfective therapy for pregnant or lactating patients in the emergency department.

Purpose: Special considerations in pharmacotherapy for infectious diseases in pregnant and lactating women in the emergency department (ED) setting are reviewed.

Summary: With many women turning to the ED as a source of primary care, it is essential for pharmacists involved in providing ED services to guide the selection of appropriate antiinfective agents during pregnancy and lactation; this area of practice is complicated by the very limited body of published data on the safety and efficacy of maternal antimicrobial use and potential fetal or neonatal adverse effects. Infectious diseases commonly encountered in the ED include sexually transmitted diseases, bacterial vaginosis and other vaginal infections, respiratory and urinary tract infections, and pneumonia.