A Practical Approach to Antibiotic Use in Critically Ill Obstetric Patients

In recent years, several new antimicrobials have become available that are safer and more effective compared with older agents commonly used in obstetrics. Basic knowledge of these agents is of paramount importance to obstetricians and maternal fetal medicine specialists, as administration of early adequate broad-spectrum empiric antibiotic coverage plays a pivotal role in the management of septic patients. Of particular importance is the critically ill pregnant patient with life-threatening infectious processes in whom poor initial antibiotic selection may result in higher mortality and significant side effects from antibiotics themselves. In this article we aim to provide a guide for clinicians to select an adequate empirical antibiotic regimen for the most common severe infections that may affect pregnant individuals.