Antimicrobial prophylaxis of neonatal group B streptococcal sepsis.

This article reviews available studies on prevention of neonatal group B streptococcal infections with antimicrobial prophylaxis. The data show that short-term administration of ampicillin to parturients with prenatal streptococcal colonization and perinatal risk factors effectively prevents these serious infections. A strong case can be made for prenatal screening for group B streptococcal carriage to identify mothers whose babies are at risk.