Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Microbiota of Attine Ants' Gardens: Visualizing a Microbial Landscape by Scanning Electron Microscopy
07:00

Microbiota of Attine Ants' Gardens: Visualizing a Microbial Landscape by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Published on: October 4, 2024

The microbiota battle

LoriAnn Jones1

  • 1Midwives College of Utah, USA.

Midwifery Today with International Midwife
|July 16, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotic prophylaxis for newborns against group B strep (GBS) poses risks and ethical concerns. Emerging antibiotic resistance in GBS, even to penicillin, necessitates reconsidering this practice.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Neonatal Health
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Antibiotic prophylaxis is standard for laboring women to prevent neonatal group B strep (GBS) infections.
  • GBS is developing resistance to commonly used antibiotics like erythromycin and clindamycin.
  • Emerging resistance to penicillin, the recommended prophylactic agent, is a growing concern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the risks and ethical considerations of antibiotic prophylaxis for GBS in newborns.
  • To examine the current landscape of GBS antibiotic resistance.
  • To question the continued use of antibiotic prophylaxis in light of resistance and potential harm.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review on GBS antibiotic resistance patterns.
  • Analysis of risks associated with antibiotic prophylaxis in laboring women and newborns.
  • Ethical considerations of current GBS prevention strategies.

Main Results:

  • Group B strep (GBS) demonstrates increasing resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin, and penicillin.
  • Antibiotic prophylaxis carries significant risks for mothers and newborns.
  • Bacterial resistance is linked to increased bacterial virulence.

Conclusions:

  • The prophylactic use of antibiotics for GBS in laboring women should be reconsidered due to rising resistance and potential harm.
  • Protecting the maternal and infant microbiome is crucial for overall health.
  • Alternative strategies for GBS prevention may be necessary.

More Related Videos

Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface10:24

Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface

Published on: July 4, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...
The Oral Microbiota01:27

The Oral Microbiota

The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine01:27

Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is characterized by distinct physicochemical conditions that shape its microbial communities. Among these, the stomach presents a particularly challenging environment for microbial colonization due to its highly acidic pH, ranging from 1 to 3. This extreme acidity effectively limits microbial density. However, certain acid-tolerant microorganisms are capable of surviving in this niche. Notably, Helicobacter pylori can colonize the gastric mucosa,...
Microbiota of the Large Intestine01:27

Microbiota of the Large Intestine

The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...
Functions of the Gut Microbiota01:18

Functions of the Gut Microbiota

The gut microbiota includes trillions of microorganisms that colonize the human gastrointestinal tract, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi. This complex ecosystem plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal and systemic health. Most of these microbes inhabit the large intestine, establishing a relatively stable and diverse community that contributes to gut homeostasis through various metabolic, immunological, and protective mechanisms.Dominant bacterial phyla, such as...
The Skin Microbiota01:27

The Skin Microbiota

The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...