Is Gatifloxacin Safe in Breastfeeding

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Gatifloxacin? Is Gatifloxacin safe for nursing mother and child? Does Gatifloxacin extracts into breast milk? Does Gatifloxacin has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Gatifloxacin influence milk supply or can Gatifloxacin decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Recently, quinolone-related medication has been used in neonates and infants without apparent side effects. It trespasses in tiny amounts into breast milk. Absorption through the child’s gut may be interfered by the calcium contained in the milk. Should it be necessary to prescribe it to a nursing mother, Norfloxacine, Ofloxacine and Ciprofloxacine have shown a lower level in the milk and thus must be the preferred drugs. Because a case of pseudomembranose colitis has been described possibly related to mother ingestion of Ciporfloxacine in a premature infant previously affected of NEC, a close follow-up for diarrhea is warranted. Be aware of the possibility of false negative results of bacterial cultures when the mother is on antibiotics.

: No information is available on the clinical use of gatifloxacin during breastfeeding. Fluoroquinolones have traditionally not been used in infants because of concern about adverse effects on the infants' developing joints. However, recent studies indicate little risk.[1][2] The calcium in milk might prevent absorption of the small amounts of fluoroquinolones in milk,[3] but insufficient data exist to prove or disprove this assertion. Use of gatifloxacin is acceptable in nursing mothers with monitoring of the infant for possible effects on the gastrointestinal flora, such as diarrhea or candidiasis (thrush, diaper rash). However, it is preferable to use an alternate drug for which safety information is available. Maternal use of an ear drop or eye drop that contains gatifloxacin presents negligible risk for the nursing infant. To substantially diminish the amount of drug that reaches the breastmilk after using eye drops, place pressure over the tear duct by the corner of the eye for 1 minute or more, then remove the excess solution with an absorbent tissue.