Comparative Effectiveness Of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) VS. Standard Culture Testing In Treatment Of Group B Streptococcus In Pregnant Women.

An abundant amount of complications can arise during labor and delivery, in which a handful of them are preventable. This literature review explores the effectiveness of Penicillin versus secondary antibiotics in treating Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection in pregnant women during labor. GBS is the leading cause of neonatal infection and mortality, with Penicillin being the first-line prophylaxis treatment. As of 2024, GBS is also the leading cause of early neonatal sepsis in the United States due to intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis not being implemented. By examining existing research from 2019-2023, extensive knowledge was found regarding effective and non-effective treatment of GBS. This research evaluates infection rates, neonatal morbidity and mortality, and maternal side effects, associated with Penicillin and secondary antibiotics. This literature’s evidence supports that secondary antibiotics are not as effective as Penicillin in preventing neonatal Group B Streptococcus infection, due to differences in their antimicrobial properties. These findings highlight the importance of identifying and implementing the most effective antibiotics for infant GBS contraction prevention, which will ultimately help reduce mortality rates associated with the disease. Identifying and implementing the most effective antibiotics will also significantly reduce, if not eliminate the incidence of newborn GBS infection. Key Words: Effective, Streptococcus, Prophylaxis, Antibiotics, Group B., Penicillin Janaé Limes, Grace Nfor, Cheryl Monie.