If you have agreed to have the intravenous (IV) antibiotics in labour against early-onset GBS infection, they should be given as soon as possible once labour has started, and at regular intervals until the baby is born.
The antibiotic usually given in labour is Benzylpenicillin (Penicillin G). The first dose of 3g is given intravenously as soon as possible once labour has started and then top-up doses of 1.5g are given every 4 hours until the baby is born.
I’m allergic to penicillin
If you are allergic to penicillin or any other antibiotic, please tell your health professionals. You can be given a different antibiotic in labour against group B Strep developing in your newborn baby.
Provided you have not had severe allergy to penicillin, the antibiotic recommended is a cephalosporin (e.g. Cefuroxime 1.5 g loading dose followed by 750 mg every 8 hours).
If you have previously had a severe allergic reaction (swelling of the skin or throat, difficulty breathing, and/ or fainting/low blood pressure), vancomycin (1g every 12 hours) should be used.
Clindamycin is not recommended as the resistance rate in the UK is high.
