Intrapartum prophylaxis targets colonization by which organism?

• A. Escherichia coli
• B. Staphylococcus aureus
• C. Group B Streptococcus (correct)
• D. Listeria monocytogenes

Answer: (C)

Intrapartum prophylaxis targets preventing transmission of a specific organism from mother to baby during labor and delivery. Group B Streptococcus colonizes the maternal vaginal and rectal tract and is the leading cause of early-onset neonatal infection. Giving antibiotics during labor to colonized mothers (or those with risk factors) reduces the risk of the newborn acquiring GBS and developing sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis after birth. The other organisms listed are not the standard targets of this prophylaxis approach: there isn’t routine intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, or Listeria monocytogenes.