Question

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

Fusidic Acid lactation summary

Fusidic Acid is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Fusidic Acid is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Fusidic Acid is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Fusidic Acid does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Fusidic Acid safe in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • Score calculated using the DrLact safety Version 1.2 model, this score ranges from 0 to 8 and measures overall safety of drug in lactation. Scores are primarily calculated using publicly available case studies, research papers, other scientific journals and publically available data.

Answer by Dr. Ru: About Fusidic Acid usage in lactation

At latest update no published data on excretion into breast milk were found.Pharmacokinetic data (moderately high molecular weight and high percentage of protein binding capacity) make unlikely the milk passage of significant amounts.Intestinal absorption is also impaired by simultaneous food intake, minimizing any passage toward infant’s plasma. Systemic use is authorized in neonates and infantsCompetes with the ability of bilirubin in binding to albumin, so during the first month of life and especially in premature, the occurrence of neonatal jaundice must be monitored. Take into account possible negative results of bacterial cultures in febrile infants when their mothers are using antibiotics. DERMATOLOGICAL TOPICAL USE:Poor absorption (0.54%) through the skin makes unlikely the passage of significant amount to breast milk.Whenever necessary for treatment of infections in the nipple, apply right after breastfeed and let it to disaapear before the next feeding and if necessary remove excess with a gauze.It should be avoided applying creams, gels and other products for local use on the nipple which could contain paraffin (mineral oil) in order to avoid any swallowing by the infant.

Answer by DrLact: About Fusidic Acid usage in lactation

Fusidic acid is not approved for marketing in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but is available in other countries as topical and systemic dosage forms. Data on excretion of fusidic acid into breastmilk are quite old and not from a well-designed study, but levels in breastmilk after intravenous fusidic acid appear to be low. With topical products, ensure that the infant's skin does not come into direct contact with the areas of skin that have been treated. Only water-miscible cream or gel products should be applied to the breast because ointments may expose the infant to high levels of mineral paraffins via licking.[1] Fusidic acid applied topically to the nipples appears to be relatively ineffective as a treatment for sore, cracked nipples.

Fusidic Acid Possible Effects in Breastfeeding

A small, randomized, unblinded trial of mothers with sore, cracked nipples was performed. Fusidic acid ointment applied to the nipples after each feeding was much less effective (36% vs 79%) than an oral antibiotic (cloxacillin or erythromycin for 10 days) in resolving the problem. Additionally, 43% of patients had no improvement with fusidic acid compared with 16% with oral antibiotics; 21% worsened with fusidic acid compared with 5% with oral antibiotics.[3]

Alternate Drugs

Tenofovir(Safe)
Ganciclovir(Low Risk)
Lindane(Unsafe)
Acyclovir(Safe)
Cefdinir(Safe)
Methicillin(Low Risk)
Quinine(Safe)
Cefoxitin(Safe)
Saquinavir(Unsafe)
Primaquine(Low Risk)
Cefazolin(Safe)
Gatifloxacin(Low Risk)
Efavirenz(Unsafe)
Malathion(Low Risk)
Atovaquone(Low Risk)
Ofloxacin(Safe)
Didanosine(Unsafe)
Cefotetan(Safe)
Meropenem(Safe)
Linezolid(Low Risk)
Enoxacin(Low Risk)
Ritonavir(Unsafe)
Cefaclor(Safe)
Doxycycline(Low Risk)
Nevirapine(Low Risk)
Amikacin(Safe)
Naftifine(Safe)
Abacavir(Safe)
Nelfinavir(Unsafe)
Lomefloxacin(Low Risk)
Dapsone(Low Risk)
Neomycin(Safe)
Levofloxacin(Low Risk)
Famciclovir(Low Risk)
Rifaximin(Safe)
Capreomycin(Low Risk)
Demeclocycline(Low Risk)
Cefixime(Safe)
Kanamycin(Safe)
Nafcillin(Safe)
Erythromycin(Low Risk)
Indinavir(Unsafe)
Ertapenem(Safe)
Cefepime(Safe)
Zidovudine(Low Risk)
Moxifloxacin(Low Risk)
Clindamycin(Low Risk)
Amantadine(Low Risk)
Cefprozil(Safe)
Aztreonam(Safe)
Valganciclovir(Low Risk)
Econazole(Safe)
Cefdinir(Safe)
Methicillin(Low Risk)
Cefoxitin(Safe)
Cefazolin(Safe)
Gatifloxacin(Low Risk)
Methenamine(Unsafe)
Ofloxacin(Safe)
Cefotetan(Safe)
Enoxacin(Low Risk)
Cefaclor(Safe)
Doxycycline(Low Risk)
Lomefloxacin(Low Risk)
Neomycin(Safe)
Amikacin(Safe)
Mupirocin(Safe)
Cefixime(Safe)
Levofloxacin(Low Risk)
Capreomycin(Low Risk)
Nalidixic Acid(Low Risk)
Demeclocycline(Low Risk)
Kanamycin(Safe)
Nafcillin(Safe)
Erythromycin(Low Risk)
Ertapenem(Safe)
Iodine(Unsafe)
Cefepime(Safe)
Moxifloxacin(Low Risk)
Clindamycin(Low Risk)
Cefprozil(Safe)
Aztreonam(Safe)
Dactinomycin(Dangerous)
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. We do not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.