Incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis and other potential pathogens in neonatal conjunctivitis

Abstract

There has been a decline in the total number of cases of neonatal conjunctivitis, but the disease is still an important health problem. Chlamydia trachomatis also shows a decreasing profile with an incidence of (cases per 1000 live births) 4.39 in 1995, 1.85 in 1996, 1.01 in 1997, and 0.78 in 1998, and a tendency to show more incidence in spring-summer and significant accumulation of cases in babies between 7 and 9 days of age. Haemophilus influenzae alone (12.3%) or associated with S. pneumoniae (4.5%) appears as a prevalent potential bacterial pathogen. A significant accumulation of H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae cases occurs in winter. In 47.6% of cases, there was no bacterial growth. No significant seasonal differences in percentage of negative cultures or among the three-day age groups were detected. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was not found associated with ophthalmia neonatorum in this series.

Chlamydia trachomatis Infections in Neonates

“…In the 1980's the incidence of chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum was found 3 -250 cases per 1,000 live births, which has radically declined to 0,65 per 1,000 live births in Europe during the last three decades. This decreasing trend can be particularly observed in developed countries, where screening and treatment during pregnancy is a regular part of C. trachomatis surveillance (Darville, 2005;Di Bartolomeo et al, 2001;Krohn et al, 1993;Persson et al, 1983;Preece et al, 1989;Quirke & Cullinane, 2008).…”

“…In the 1980's C. trachomatis was detected in as many as 14-46% of neonatal conjunctivitis, however, the latest studies estimate the descending prevalence of C. trachomatis as being approximately 8% in this condition. Its significant role moreover seems to be recently extinguished by some classical pyogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae (Di Bartolomeo et al, 2001;Persson et al, 1983;Valencia et al, 2000).…”

“…In contrast with classical trachoma caused by A-C serotypes, those responsible for neonatal eye infection belong to the D-K serotypes and correlate with the actual distribution of urogenital maternal carriage of the pathogen (Di Bartolomeo et al, 2001;Isobe et al, 1996). Some data suggest that certain genotypes may be strongly asssociated with ophthtalmia neonatorum, as an epidemiological link was recently found between genotype E and the ocular symptoms (Gallo Vaulet et al, 2010).…”

“…Main bacterial pathogens including C. trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and other pyogenic species can be identified only in 35-60% of the cases (Di Bartolomeo et al, 2001;Jarvis et al, 1987;Krohn et al, 1993;Pierce et al, 1982). In a well-designed study in the Netherlands an uncommonly high detection rate was documented with 84% of identified pathogens (Rours et al, 2008).…”

Ophtalmia Neonatorum

“…Availability of Sulfonamides and Penicillin in 1943 was effective in treating of Gonorroheae (Kampmeier, 1978;Morton, 1977). In the past N. Gonorroheae was a common cause of conjuctivitis, but after 1881 based on observations of Crede (using the silver nitrate) the prevalence as a causative agent of ophtalmia is decreased, in the industrial zones from 10 to 0.3% (Di Bartolomeo et al, 2001). Neisseria species are aerobic, gram negative, non motile and non spore forming.…”