Journal of Paediatrics and Child HealthVolume 50, Issue 8 p. 653-654 Heads UpFree Access Pyloric stenosis and macrolides First published: 01 August 2014 https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.12683_4AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is known to be associated with genetics, male gender, being first born and being bottle fed. There is also a known association with receiving erythromycin in the first 2 weeks after birth. A Danish study aimed to test if IHPS was associated with macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin, roxithromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin and spiramycin) given to infants >2 weeks old and given to mothers in late pregnancy and when breastfeeding.1 The researchers identified a cohort of almost a million live-born singletons using a national database. Data on 880 infants who required surgery for IHPS obtained through the national patient register were linked to data on antibiotic use recorded in the patient drug register. Infants <2 weeks old given macrolides had an increased risk of pyloric stenosis (odds ratio (OR) 29.8, 95% confidence interval 16.4–54.1). Infants aged 14–120 days given macrolides were also at increased risk (OR 3.24, 1.20–8.74). There was no significant increased risk of IHPS for infants whose mothers took macrolides during pregnancy. Post-natal macrolide use in the 2 weeks after birth increased the risk of IHPS (OR 3.49, 1.92–6.34) but not if mothers took macrolides after 2 weeks. Unless treatment is imperative and there is no suitable alternative, macrolide antibiotics should not be prescribed for infants or for their breastfeeding mothers in the first 2 weeks after birth. Reference 1Lund M et al. BMJ 2014; 348: g1908. Reviewer: David Isaacs, david.isaacs@health.nsw.gov.au Volume50, Issue8August 2014Pages 653-654 ReferencesRelatedInformation