[Comparative evaluation of the embryotoxic effect of various antibiotics]

A broad spectrum of antibacterial antibiotics used in treatment of purulent inflammatory diseases in pregnant women was studied experimentally. The antibiotics included oxacillin, fusidin, kanamycin, gentamicin, cefuroxime, cephalothin and tetracycline. The embryotoxic action of the antibiotics was investigated on embryos of rats cultivated in vitro. The mediated antenatal action of tetracycline and gentamicin was studied during various gestation terms before implantation (days 1 to 7), during organogenesis (days 8 to 14) and during fetal growth++ (days 14 to 20). Prior to the delivery the data on the intrauterine death, development of the fetoplacental unit and the presence of external and internal anomalies were considered. The placenta, liver and kidneys of the fetus were examined morphologically. It was shown that tetracycline and gentamicin had embryotoxic properties as evidenced by a higher intrauterine death rate and congenital anomalies in individual fetuses.