Which antibiotics are typically used for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) prophylaxis?

For Group B Streptococcus (GBS) prophylaxis, IV penicillin or ampicillin is the standard choice. GBS is a common bacterium that can cause serious infections in newborns, particularly if the mother is colonized during labor. The primary goal of prophylaxis is to prevent transmission of GBS during delivery, and intravenous penicillin or ampicillin is highly effective in eradicating the organism from the genital tract just before labor.

The use of these antibiotics is recommended for certain high-risk populations, including women who are GBS positive on screening cultures or those with a history of a previous infant with GBS disease. The effectiveness of penicillin and ampicillin in this context has made them the first-line agents.

Other antibiotics provided in the options, like oral azithromycin or clindamycin, are not standard for GBS prophylaxis. While they may have activity against certain strains of GBS, they are not preferred because they do not have the same level of evidence for preventing neonatal disease as penicillin or ampicillin. Ceftriaxone and vancomycin are also not standard choices for this specific purpose; they may be used for other infections but are not effective for preventing GBS transmission during