A nurse is caring for a client who is in labor and has a diagnosis of group B streptococcus B- hemolytic infection. Which of the following medications should the nurse plan to administer?
A.
Ampicillin.
B.
Azithromycin.
C.
Ceftriaxone.
D.
Acyclovir.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is A. Ampicillin.
Explanation:
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a type of bacterial infection that can be found in a pregnant woman’s rectum or vagina. If not properly managed, GBS can be passed from the mother to the baby during delivery, which can lead to serious infections in newborns, such as sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis. To reduce the risk of transmission during labor, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) for women who test positive for GBS.
Ampicillin for GBS:
- Ampicillin, a penicillin-class antibiotic, is the first-line medication typically used for GBS prophylaxis. It is effective against a wide range of bacteria, including Group B Streptococcus.
- For a pregnant woman in labor, ampicillin is usually administered intravenously, with a typical dose of 2 g given initially, followed by 1 g every 4 hours until delivery.
- Ampicillin rapidly reduces the bacterial load in the birth canal, minimizing the risk of neonatal infection.
Why the other options are incorrect:
- B. Azithromycin: This is a macrolide antibiotic often used to treat atypical bacteria and certain respiratory infections, but it is not the preferred treatment for GBS prophylaxis.
- C. Ceftriaxone: A third-generation cephalosporin, ceftriaxone is more commonly used to treat severe bacterial infections like meningitis or pneumonia, but not for GBS prophylaxis. It is not the first-line treatment in labor unless the patient has a penicillin allergy.
- D. Acyclovir: This is an antiviral medication, primarily used to treat viral infections such as herpes simplex, and it has no role in treating bacterial infections like GBS.
For patients allergic to penicillin, alternative antibiotics like clindamycin or vancomycin may be used, but ampicillin remains the first-line treatment for non-allergic patients.