In GBS-positive pregnancy, antibiotic prophylaxis during labor primarily prevents which neonatal outcome?

In GBS-positive pregnancy, antibiotic prophylaxis during labor primarily prevents which neonatal outcome?

• A. Maternal infection
• B. Preterm birth
• C. Newborn jaundice
• D. Neonatal GBS sepsis

Answer: (D)

In this scenario, the key concept is preventing transmission of group B Streptococcus from mother to baby during delivery. Providing antibiotics during labor reduces the amount of GBS the baby is exposed to as birth occurs, which lowers the risk that the newborn will develop early-onset GBS disease. The strongest neonatal outcome that intrapartum prophylaxis aims to prevent is GBS sepsis in the newborn. This treatment is not primarily about preventing maternal infection, preterm birth, or newborn jaundice, which have different etiologies and aren’t the main targets of intrapartum GBS prophylaxis.

In this scenario, the key concept is preventing transmission of group B Streptococcus from mother to baby during delivery. Providing antibiotics during labor reduces the amount of GBS the baby is exposed to as birth occurs, which lowers the risk that the newborn will develop early-onset GBS disease. The strongest neonatal outcome that intrapartum prophylaxis aims to prevent is GBS sepsis in the newborn. This treatment is not primarily about preventing maternal infection, preterm birth, or newborn jaundice, which have different etiologies and aren’t the main targets of intrapartum GBS prophylaxis.