A Cochrane review included 3 studies with a total of 852 women. The use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) compared to no treatment did not significantly reduce the incidence of all cause mortality (RR 0.19, 95% CI 0.01 to 3.82, 1 study, 164 infants), mortality from group B streptococcus (GBS) infection (RR 0.31, 95% CI 0.01 to 7.50, 1 study, 164 infants) or from infections caused by bacteria other than GBS (RR 0.31, 95% CI 0.01 to 7.50, 1 study, 164 infants).
The incidence of early GBS infection was reduced with IAP compared to no treatment (RR 0.17, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.74; RD -0.04, 95% CI -0.07 to -0.01; NNT 25, 95% CI 14 to 100; 3 studies, 488 infants). The incidence of late onset GBS disease (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.01 to 8.69, 2 studies, 289 infants) or sepsis from organisms other than GBS (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.15 to 6.79, 2 studies, 289 infants) and puerperal infection (RR 0.16, 95% CI 0.01 to 3.03, 1 study, 121 women) was not significantly different between groups. One trial (352 women) compared intrapartum ampicillin versus penicillin and reported no significant difference in neonatal or maternal outcomes.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (inadequate or unclear allocation concealment and blinding).