Selkirk Medical Group
Information for Parents -to-be
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Eye Care and Prevention of Ophthalmia Neonatorum
What causes newborn eye infection?
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia are both sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which if
present in the mother’s vagina at birth can pass to the newborn and infect the eyes.
Although both STIs often tested in pregnancy, no test is 100% reliable and may be
asymptomatic in the mother and baby. There is also a risk of acquiring the infection
after the screening test is done in early pregnancy. When undiagnosed and untreated
such eye infections can cause blindness or systemic symptoms.
How can newborn eye infection be prevented?
Erythromycin, 0.5% antibiotic ointment is
administered to the baby’s eyes within two hours of
birth. The British Columbia Health Act of 1995
states that all babies must be treated as a
preventative measure (prophylactically).
What are the benefits to the use of
erythromycin eye ointment?
The use of topical antibiotic eye ointment greatly
reduces the risk of bacteria colonizing the eye and
causing an infection. Although the primary bacterial
infection is related to Chlamydia and Gonorrhea,
other bacterial infections can also be prevented.
Photo credit: dhammza via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-ND
What are the risks associated with the use of erythromycin eye ointment?
Administration of the ointment is painless; however the baby will experience blurred
vision immediately after applying it. There is the theoretical risk of antibiotic resistance
to some organisms in the eye, however this has not been described in the literature.
Key Points
18
When there is an increased risk of infection through the mother, treatment should
be administered immediately after birth
Erythromycin eye ointment is normally administered during the newborn exam
within the first hours postpartum
The erythromycin eye ointment is considered to be painless. However it may blur
the baby’s vision temporarily and is therefore timed not to interrupt the close
bonding time that occurs immediately after birth
If parents decline to have the erythromycin eye ointment
administered after considering the risks and benefits, an
Informed Refusal should be signed
It is important to watch the baby’s eyes for redness,
Photo credit: hernanpba via Visual hunt /
discharge and swelling
CC BY-SA