Conjunctivitis in Neonates

Abstract

dictate changes in hospital policy. For example, observing a high or increasing rate of chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum might suggest a change in neonatal ocular prophylaxis from silver nitrate to e r y t h r o m y c i n or tetracycline preparations. Calling some of these infections nosocomial should not be taken to suggest that their acquisition is somehow the fault of hospital personnel. REFERENCES

Erythromycin bioactivity is stable in ophthalmic ointment used for prophylaxis of neonatal gonococcal conjunctivitis

“…We were unable to detect any significant loss of antibiotic bioactivity.Although the incidence of neonatal gonococcal conjunctivitis has been dramatically reduced by the use of neonatal ocular prophylaxis (6), cases of neonatal gonococcal conjunctivitis (4,5,10) and Chlamydia conjunctivitis (7) still occur. Erythromycin ointment appears to be as effective as silver nitrate in preventing neonatal gonococcal conjunctivitis (2, 16) and does not cause chemical conjunctivitis (14); several reports have therefore recommended its adoption for routine prophylactic use (3, 7, 11).…”

“…Increased nongonococcal neonatal conjunctivitis after erythromycin ointment prophylaxis has been reported and was believed to be related to difficulty in applying the ointment (10,13). After initially suggesting warming the ointment (3), Bryant later abandoned this technique (18).…”