Is penicillin G a better choice than ampicillin for prophylaxis of neonatal group B streptococcal infections?
A review of the pharmacokinetics and the narrow spectrum of action of penicillin G favors this antibiotic over ampicillin for the prophylaxis of early neonatal group B streptococcal (GBS) disease. Penicillin G provides good placental transfer and fetal and neonatal tissue levels. Group B streptococcal disease has a narrower range of sensitivities to penicillin G than to ampicillin, and the potential for selecting more resistant organisms may be greater with the broader spectrum of ampicillin than with penicillin G.
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York.
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MS
Amstey
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RS
Gibbs
D000667:Ampicillin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000187:drug effects
D000667:Ampicillin; D010400:Penicillin G