From the Guidelines
Cephalexin is not recommended for the treatment of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections, as it is not listed as a preferred agent for GBS intrapartum prophylaxis in the guidelines. According to the guidelines from the CDC in 2010 1, the recommended regimens for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of early-onset GBS disease include penicillin G, ampicillin, cefazolin, vancomycin, and clindamycin, but not cephalexin. The guidelines suggest that cefazolin, a first-generation cephalosporin, can be used as an alternative for patients with a history of anaphylaxis to penicillin, but cephalexin is not mentioned as an option. Key points to consider when treating GBS infections include:
- The use of penicillin G or ampicillin as the first-line treatment for GBS infections when possible
- The consideration of cefazolin as an alternative for patients with a history of anaphylaxis to penicillin
- The importance of completing the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by a healthcare provider to effectively eliminate the infection and prevent complications or recurrence.
From the Research
Antibiotic Susceptibility of Group B Streptococcus
- Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is generally susceptible to beta-lactam antibiotics, including penicillin and ampicillin 2, 3.
- However, there have been reports of reduced susceptibility to beta-lactams in some countries 3.
- Resistance to second-line antibiotics, such as erythromycin and clindamycin, remains high amongst GBS 2, 3, 4.
- Cefazolin, a first-generation cephalosporin, has been used as an alternative for patients with penicillin allergy, but its effectiveness against GBS is not well-established 5, 6.
Effectiveness of Cephalexin against Group B Streptococcus
- There is limited information available on the effectiveness of cephalexin, a first-generation cephalosporin, against GBS.
- Cephalexin is not specifically mentioned in the studies as a recommended treatment for GBS infections 2, 3, 5, 4.
- However, cefazolin, a related first-generation cephalosporin, has been used as an alternative for patients with penicillin allergy 5, 6.
- It is unclear whether cephalexin would be effective against GBS, and more research is needed to determine its efficacy 6.