Question

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

Cefazolin lactation summary

Cefazolin is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Cefazolin is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Cefazolin is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Cefazolin does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Cefazolin 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 Cefazolin usage in lactation

First-generation cephalosporin for injection or parenteral administration. Like most cephalosporins for which data are available, excretion occurs in breast milk in very small amount and it is clinically insignificant (Fukada 1973, Yoshioka 1979, Zhang 1997). Cephalosporins are widely used in the Pediatric practice with a good tolerance, even in the neonatal period, so it is very unlikely that in small amounts through milk would be a cause of problems in the infant. Be aware of the possibility of false negative results of cultures in febrile infants whose mothers are taking antibiotics as well as the possibility of gastroenteritis (Ito 1993) by altering the intestinal flora. American Academy of Pediatrics: Maternal Medication Usually Compatible With Breastfeeding

Answer by DrLact: About Cefazolin usage in lactation

Limited information indicates cefazolin produces low levels in milk that are not expected to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants. Occasionally disruption of the infant's gastrointestinal flora, resulting in diarrhea or thrush have been reported with cephalosporins, but these effects have not been adequately evaluated. Cefazolin is acceptable in nursing mothers.

Alternate Drugs

Valganciclovir(Low Risk)
Econazole(Safe)
Amantadine(Low Risk)
Ganciclovir(Low Risk)
Cefotetan(Safe)
Tenofovir(Safe)
Acyclovir(Safe)
Lindane(Unsafe)
Cefdinir(Safe)
Quinine(Safe)
Methicillin(Low Risk)
Efavirenz(Unsafe)
Aztreonam(Safe)
Saquinavir(Unsafe)
Ofloxacin(Safe)
Primaquine(Low Risk)
Didanosine(Unsafe)
Gatifloxacin(Low Risk)
Atovaquone(Low Risk)
Malathion(Low Risk)
Meropenem(Safe)
Cefazolin(Safe)
Linezolid(Low Risk)
Enoxacin(Low Risk)
Ritonavir(Unsafe)
Cefprozil(Safe)
Naftifine(Safe)
Abacavir(Safe)
Doxycycline(Low Risk)
Nevirapine(Low Risk)
Dapsone(Low Risk)
Neomycin(Safe)
Cefixime(Safe)
Nelfinavir(Unsafe)
Lomefloxacin(Low Risk)
Capreomycin(Low Risk)
Famciclovir(Low Risk)
Rifaximin(Safe)
Levofloxacin(Low Risk)
Cefaclor(Safe)
Nafcillin(Safe)
Cefepime(Safe)
Erythromycin(Low Risk)
Demeclocycline(Low Risk)
Amikacin(Safe)
Ertapenem(Safe)
Cefoxitin(Safe)
Indinavir(Unsafe)
Kanamycin(Safe)
Zidovudine(Low Risk)
Moxifloxacin(Low Risk)
Clindamycin(Low Risk)
Cefotetan(Safe)
Cefdinir(Safe)
Methicillin(Low Risk)
Aztreonam(Safe)
Ofloxacin(Safe)
Gatifloxacin(Low Risk)
Methenamine(Unsafe)
Cefazolin(Safe)
Enoxacin(Low Risk)
Cefprozil(Safe)
Doxycycline(Low Risk)
Neomycin(Safe)
Cefixime(Safe)
Lomefloxacin(Low Risk)
Mupirocin(Safe)
Capreomycin(Low Risk)
Nalidixic Acid(Low Risk)
Levofloxacin(Low Risk)
Cefaclor(Safe)
Nafcillin(Safe)
Cefepime(Safe)
Erythromycin(Low Risk)
Demeclocycline(Low Risk)
Ertapenem(Safe)
Iodine(Unsafe)
Cefoxitin(Safe)
Kanamycin(Safe)
Moxifloxacin(Low Risk)
Clindamycin(Low Risk)
Amikacin(Safe)
Cefdinir(Safe)
Cefazolin(Safe)
Cefprozil(Safe)
Cefixime(Safe)
Cefaclor(Safe)
Cefepime(Safe)
Cefoxitin(Safe)
Cefotetan(Safe)
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.