Which of the following is considered a pregnancy-safe class of antibiotics?

• A. FQs
• B. Aminoglycosides
• C. Penicillins
• D. Tetracyclines

Answer: (C)

When treating infections in pregnancy, you look for antibiotics with proven safety for the fetus. Penicillins have a long history of use in pregnancy and are considered safe at standard doses. They cross the placenta but have no evidence of teratogenic effects, making them a common first-line choice for pregnant patients (examples include amoxicillin and penicillin).

In contrast, fluoroquinolones are generally avoided because animal and limited human data suggest potential cartilage damage; aminoglycosides carry risks of fetal hearing loss and kidney toxicity; tetracyclines can permanently stain teeth and affect bone growth.

So, penicillins are the pregnancy-safe class.