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The effect of intrapartum chemoprophylaxis on the vertical transmission of group B streptococci
Author(s) -
EASMON C. S. F.,
HASTINGS M. J. G.,
DEELEY JANE,
BLOXHAM BARBARA,
RIVERS R. P. A.,
MARWOOD R.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1983.tb09280.x
Subject(s) - chemoprophylaxis , group b , erythromycin , benzylpenicillin , medicine , antibiotics , pregnancy , obstetrics , transmission (telecommunications) , streptococcus , penicillin , pediatrics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , bacteria , genetics , electrical engineering , engineering
Summary. Intrapartum chemoprophylaxis with benzylpenicillin or erythromycin significantly reduced the rate of transmission of group B streptococci (GBS) from mothers colonized during pregnancy to their babies from 45% to 3% (P<0.001). None of the babies born to women who were given prophylaxis was colonized with GBS in the first 24 h of life. Six weeks after leaving hospital, however, 23% of the babies in the antibiotic group had become colonized with GBS compared with 44% in the control group. GBS strains resistant and tolerant to both benzylpenicillin and erythromycin were found in this study. Intrapartum chemoprophylaxis breaks the cycle of GBS transmission at birth and may be useful in preventing early onset GBS disease, but is unlikely to affect late onset infections.