A safe antibiotic option for a pregnant woman with community-acquired pneumonia is?

Azithromycin is an appropriate choice for treating community-acquired pneumonia in pregnant women because it is classified as a category B medication. This means that studies have not shown any risk to the fetus in animal reproduction studies, and there are limited well-controlled studies in pregnant women that also support its safety. Azithromycin's effectiveness against common pathogens associated with pneumonia, coupled with its favorable safety profile during pregnancy, makes it a suitable option.

Doxycycline and gentamicin, on the other hand, are not preferred for use in pregnancy. Doxycycline belongs to category D medications, which indicate potential risks based on human studies, particularly related to bone and dental development in the fetus. Gentamicin, while effective against certain infections, poses risks in pregnancy due to its potential to cause adverse effects on fetal development and has a category D classification as well.

Fidaxomicin is primarily used for treating Clostridium difficile infections and is not typically utilized for community-acquired pneumonia, making it less relevant in this context. Given these considerations, azithromycin stands out as the safest antibiotic choice for a pregnant woman with community-acquired pneumonia.