Etiology and Diagnosis of Neonatal Conjunctivitis

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from the most inflamed eye of 13 of 107 (12%) infants with neonatal purulent conjunctivitis and from none of 100 healthy infants (p less than 0.01). Staphylococcus aureus was recovered from 49 (46%) inflamed eyes and from 8 (8%) healthy eyes (p less than 0.01). Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Branhamella catarrhalis, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from very few infants with conjunctivitis but not from controls. No organisms could be recovered from 23 (22%) infants with conjunctivitis and from 60 (60%) healthy infants (p less than 0.01). The incidence of neonatal purulent conjunctivitis was 107 (2%), of 5,924 births. Eyes infected with C. trachomatis were significantly more inflamed than eyes from which S. aureus or no organisms could be isolated. Furthermore, conjunctival "pseudomembranes" were associated with C. trachomatis. The age at onset of the chlamydial conjunctivitis was higher compared to the age at onset of conjunctivitis in which S. aureus or no organisms were isolated.

A Controlled Trial of Povidone–Iodine as Prophylaxis against Ophthalmia Neonatorum

“…The second most feared microorganism, C. trachomatis, may decrease vision as a result of corneal and conjunctival scarring, vascularization, 32 and the formation of pseudomembranes. 33 Significantly fewer cases of C. trachomatis infection occurred in infants receiving povidone-iodine than in those receiving either silver nitrate (PϽ0.001) or erythromycin (Pϭ0.008). This benefit is especially important because the incidence of chlamydial infections is escalating.…”

Aetiology of neonatal conjunctivitis evaluated in a population‐based setting

“…Conjunctivitis is a common disease during the first month of life , and anatomical problems such as congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction, which affects 5–6% of all neonates and infants , are considered to have a significant role in its neonatal pathogenesis. Chlamydia trachomatis ( C trachomatis ) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae ( N gonorrhoeae ) are the most significant bacterial pathogens to be diagnosed in infectious neonatal conjunctivitis, because without treatment they can both lead to serious long‐term consequences .…”

“…Chlamydia trachomatis ( C trachomatis ) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae ( N gonorrhoeae ) are the most significant bacterial pathogens to be diagnosed in infectious neonatal conjunctivitis, because without treatment they can both lead to serious long‐term consequences . C trachomatis is considered a major causative agent for neonatal conjunctivitis in many centres , but its proportion varies greatly between geographical regions and clinical settings, ranging from 0 to 64% . Respiratory viruses cause more than 10% of acute paediatric conjunctivitis , but their role during the neonatal period remains unclear.…”

Chlamydia trachomatis as a Cause of Neonatal Conjunctivitis in Dutch Infants

“…5 C trachomatis has become the most frequent identifiable cause of neonatal conjunctivitis in many countries. [6][7][8][9] The majority of chlamydial conjunctivitis cases heal spontaneously during the first few months of life. However, untreated persistent infections can lead to acute discomfort and distress for both infant and mother, as well as to chronic eye disease.…”