Abstract: Antibiotic overuse, which is common phenomenon among all population in China especially pregnant women, can trigger more severe infections by promoting drug-resistant bacteria and also contribute to a long-term harmful effect on embryonic and neonatal development. Although many advantages in antibiotics application in clinics, the underlying huge risks still can’t be ignored. In this article, we review the antibiotics application during pregnancy and its potential side-effects on embryo or newborn development by summarizing the results of retrospective studies and animal experiments presented in published research papers. The former includes the rational appliance of antibiotics in circumstances of artificial rupture of membrane, urinary tract infections, and infections during vaginal delivery; and the latter concludes the newly-reported harmfulness of antibiotics to the embryo or newborn, such as fetal abnormalities, low immunity of newborn to diseases and infant’s obesity subsequently. Thus, the review of the application of antibiotics in clinics during the pregnancy and by-effects on the embryo and newborn development, which can provide theoretical evidences for clinical rational application of antibiotics, is an important caution to our society as well.

Key words: antibiotics, pregnancy, infections, embryonic development, abnormalities