Ophthalmia neonatorum
The CMGs are guidelines on the diagnosis and management of a range of common and rare, but important, eye conditions that present with varying frequency in primary and first contact care.
The CMGs are guidelines on the diagnosis and management of a range of common and rare, but important, eye conditions that present with varying frequency in primary and first contact care.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum (ON) (conjunctivitis of the newborn) occurs within the first month of life. It is a bacterial, chlamydial or viral infection acquired during passage through an infected birth canal. Since April 2010 it is no longer a notifiable disease in the UK.
Historically, the commonest agent was Neisseria gonorrhoeae (also known as ‘gonococcus’, and a cause of sexually-transmitted disease). The use of silver nitrate drops as prophylaxis was introduced in the C19, although abandoned in the UK in the 1950s. Gonococcal ON develops in approx. 30-50% of newborns exposed to gonococcal infection during delivery
Nowadays a more usual agent, also sexually acquired by the mother, is Chlamydia trachomatis. Babies born to women with untreated chlamydial infection at delivery have a 30-50% chance of developing ON
The incubation period is usually as follows:
The prevalence of ON differs in different parts of the world and is dependent mainly upon socio-economic conditions, level of knowledge about general health, standard of maternal healthcare as well as the type of prophylactic programme used. UK incidence is:
In low income countries, very much higher incidences have been reported
Other bacteria that cause ON include Haemophilus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas species
Viral infections (less common) can be caused by herpes simplex virus, adenovirus or enterovirus
The neonatal conjunctiva is particularly vulnerable to infection because of the lack of immunity and the absence of local lymphoid tissue at birth
Infection of the maternal birth canal as the result of sexually-transmitted disease
This infection may be asymptomatic, especially in the case of C. trachomatis
(Usually described by mother):
Lids
Conjunctival features
Corneal features
Practitioners should recognise their limitations and where necessary seek further advice or refer the patient elsewhere
GRADE* Level of evidence and strength of recommendation always relates to the statement(s) immediately above
None
None
A1: emergency (same day) referral to ophthalmologist; no intervention ON may result in a severe and progressive conjunctivitis with corneal complications and be associated with potentially serious systemic infection
Diagnosis
Treatment
Bacterial conjunctivitis
Chlamydial conjunctivitis
Herpetic conjunctivitis
Darling EK, McDonald H A meta-analysis of the efficacy of ocular prophylactic agents used for the prevention of gonococcal and chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum J Midwifery Womens Health 2010;55:319-27
Matejcek A, Goldman RD Treatment and prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum. Can Fam Physician. 2013;59(11):1187-90
McAnena L, Knowles SJ2, Curry A, Cassidy L. Prevalence of gonococcal conjunctivitis in adults and neonates. Eye (Lond). 2015;29(7):875-80
Moore DL, MacDonald NE; Canadian Paediatric Society, Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee. Preventing ophthalmia neonatorum. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2015;26(3):122-5
The definition of Ophthalmia Neonatorum (conjunctivitis of the newborn) is an eye infection that occurs within the first 30 days of life. It is caught during birth by contact with the mother’s birth canal that is infected with a sexually-transmitted disease. The infection may be bacterial, chlamydial or viral. Historically, gonorrhoea was the usual cause, but chlamydial infection is now more common. Globally, the prevalence of this infection varies widely according to prevailing socio-economic conditions, health education and maternal healthcare.
The baby’s eyes are red, the eyelids and the whites of the eyes are swollen and there is watering or a discharge. Usually both eyes are affected, but one may be worse than the other. One of the dangers of gonorrhoeal infection is that it may affect the cornea also. Early diagnosis is important and for this reason, the optometrist is advised to refer all cases immediately to the on-call ophthalmologist. Swabs will be taken for culture and treatment started without delay, using antibiotics given by mouth or by injection or into a vein, and in eye drop form.
Opthalmia neonatorum
Version 10
Date of search 12.04.18
Date of revision 19.04.18
Date of publication 16.10.18
Date for review 11.04.20
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