Preventing Ophthalmia Neonatorum
The use of silver nitrate as prophylaxis for neonatal ophthalmia was instituted in the late 1800s to prevent the devastating effects of neonatal ocular infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. At that time – during the preantibiotic era – many countries made such prophylaxis mandatory by law. Today, ne...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/720726 |
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| author | Dorothy L Moore Noni E MacDonald Canadian Paediatric Society, Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee |
| author_facet | Dorothy L Moore Noni E MacDonald Canadian Paediatric Society, Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee |
| author_sort | Dorothy L Moore |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of silver nitrate as prophylaxis for neonatal ophthalmia was instituted in the late 1800s to prevent the devastating effects of neonatal ocular infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. At that time – during the preantibiotic era – many countries made such prophylaxis mandatory by law. Today, neonatal gonococcal ophthalmia is rare in Canada, but ocular prophylaxis for this condition remains mandatory in some provinces/ territories. Silver nitrate drops are no longer available and erythromycin, the only ophthalmic antibiotic eye ointment currently available for use in newborns, is of questionable efficacy. Ocular prophylaxis is not effective in preventing chlamydial conjunctivitis. Applying medication to the eyes of newborns may result in mild eye irritation and has been perceived by some parents as interfering with mother-infant bonding. Physicians caring for newborns should advocate for rescinding mandatory ocular prophylaxis laws. More effective means of preventing ophthalmia neonatorum include screening all pregnant women for gonorrhea and chlamydia infection, and treatment and follow-up of those found to be infected. Mothers who were not screened should be tested at delivery. Infants of mothers with untreated gonococcal infection at delivery should receive ceftriaxone. Infants exposed to chlamydia at delivery should be followed closely for signs of infection. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d58ec9a01cf24fc0be3c2ccf7bea31fa |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1712-9532 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-d58ec9a01cf24fc0be3c2ccf7bea31fa2025-02-03T01:28:55ZengWileyCanadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology1712-95322015-01-0126312212510.1155/2015/720726Preventing Ophthalmia NeonatorumDorothy L Moore0Noni E MacDonald1Canadian Paediatric Society, Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee2Canadian Paediatric Society, 2305 St Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaCanadian Paediatric Society, 2305 St Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaCanadian Paediatric Society, 2305 St Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaThe use of silver nitrate as prophylaxis for neonatal ophthalmia was instituted in the late 1800s to prevent the devastating effects of neonatal ocular infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. At that time – during the preantibiotic era – many countries made such prophylaxis mandatory by law. Today, neonatal gonococcal ophthalmia is rare in Canada, but ocular prophylaxis for this condition remains mandatory in some provinces/ territories. Silver nitrate drops are no longer available and erythromycin, the only ophthalmic antibiotic eye ointment currently available for use in newborns, is of questionable efficacy. Ocular prophylaxis is not effective in preventing chlamydial conjunctivitis. Applying medication to the eyes of newborns may result in mild eye irritation and has been perceived by some parents as interfering with mother-infant bonding. Physicians caring for newborns should advocate for rescinding mandatory ocular prophylaxis laws. More effective means of preventing ophthalmia neonatorum include screening all pregnant women for gonorrhea and chlamydia infection, and treatment and follow-up of those found to be infected. Mothers who were not screened should be tested at delivery. Infants of mothers with untreated gonococcal infection at delivery should receive ceftriaxone. Infants exposed to chlamydia at delivery should be followed closely for signs of infection.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/720726 |
| spellingShingle | Dorothy L Moore Noni E MacDonald Canadian Paediatric Society, Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee Preventing Ophthalmia Neonatorum Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology |
| title | Preventing Ophthalmia Neonatorum |
| title_full | Preventing Ophthalmia Neonatorum |
| title_fullStr | Preventing Ophthalmia Neonatorum |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preventing Ophthalmia Neonatorum |
| title_short | Preventing Ophthalmia Neonatorum |
| title_sort | preventing ophthalmia neonatorum |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/720726 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dorothylmoore preventingophthalmianeonatorum AT noniemacdonald preventingophthalmianeonatorum AT canadianpaediatricsocietyinfectiousdiseasesandimmunizationcommittee preventingophthalmianeonatorum |