A mother in labor tests positive for Group B Streptococcus. What is the recommended prophylaxis during labor?

A mother in labor tests positive for Group B Streptococcus. What is the recommended prophylaxis during labor?

• A. Intravenous penicillin G during labor
• B. Oral penicillin G during labor
• C. Intravenous vancomycin during labor
• D. No antibiotics

Answer: (A)

Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis is used to prevent newborn infection with Group B Streptococcus by reducing the bacterial load in the birth canal during delivery. The best choice is giving penicillin G intravenously during labor because this rapidly achieves high maternal blood levels that cross to the fetus, providing effective protection for the baby at the time of birth. GBS is typically susceptible to penicillin, so IV penicillin G is the most reliable and standard option. An oral antibiotic wouldn’t reliably reach therapeutic levels during labor, so it isn’t effective for this purpose. If a mother has a serious penicillin allergy, alternatives like vancomycin may be used, but they are not the first-line choice for uncomplicated GBS colonization. Not using antibiotics would leave the newborn at greater risk for early-onset GBS disease.

Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis is used to prevent newborn infection with Group B Streptococcus by reducing the bacterial load in the birth canal during delivery. The best choice is giving penicillin G intravenously during labor because this rapidly achieves high maternal blood levels that cross to the fetus, providing effective protection for the baby at the time of birth. GBS is typically susceptible to penicillin, so IV penicillin G is the most reliable and standard option. An oral antibiotic wouldn’t reliably reach therapeutic levels during labor, so it isn’t effective for this purpose. If a mother has a serious penicillin allergy, alternatives like vancomycin may be used, but they are not the first-line choice for uncomplicated GBS colonization. Not using antibiotics would leave the newborn at greater risk for early-onset GBS disease.