Ophthalmia neonatorum: Introduction, Pathogens and Prevention
Introduction of Ophthalmia neonatorum
Ophthalmia neonatorum defines as any infection of the eye that occurs in the first month of a baby’s life. Inflammation of conjunctiva in the neonate is neonatal conjunctivitis that occurs in 1.6-12% of newborns.
The most common types of bacteria that cause infection in the infant’s eye come from the mother’s birth canal. The most common cause is chemical irritation from antimicrobial prophylaxis against bacterial infection
Pathogens of Ophthalmia neonatorum
Infected newborns usually develop drainage from the eyes in the first month of life. Many articles suggestive for most of the neonates with bacterial conjunctivitis are between the ages of 1 and 12 days and with all three symptoms i.e. erythema, swelling, and discharge.
Common microorganisms that cause neonatal conjunctivitis are Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae , N. gonorrheae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and C. trachomatis ( all are bacterial origin) while viral origin is adenovirus and herpes simplex virus.
Prevention of Ophthalmia neonatorum
- All babies, including those born by cesarean section (CS), should receive ocular prophylaxis with 1 % silver nitrate, 0.5% erythromycin ointment, or 1 % tetracycline hydrochloride in the first hour after birth, according to the Canadian Paediatric Society
- It’s vital to remember that ocular prophylaxis does not prevent chlamydial Ophthalmia neonatorum, and that, while gonorrheal Ophthalmia neonatorum has grown less common since the introduction of ocular prophylaxis, it should still be considered because of its high proclivity for causing serious ocular destruction and blindness.
Further Readings
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551572/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3828094/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/newborn-ophthalmia
- https://www.nhp.gov.in/disease/eye-ophthalmology-/neonatal-conjunctivitis
- https://www.who.int/docstore/bulletin/pdf/2001/issue3/vol79.no.3.262-266.pdf