Ophthalmia neonatorum is inflammation of the conjunctiva in newborns, usually caused by bacterial infection acquired during birth. Before modern treatment, it affected 10-15% of newborns and was a major cause of blindness. While silver nitrate drops reduced chemical conjunctivitis, gonorrhea and chlamydia remain common causes. Symptoms include eye redness and discharge. Prompt treatment with topical and systemic antibiotics can cure most cases and prevent complications like corneal scarring and blindness. Proper prenatal care and treatment of maternal infections helps reduce risk.

1. OPHTHALMIA
NEONATORUM
Aelaf Aseged
C2

2. OPHTALMIA NEONATORUM
Introduction
 Definition- inflammation of the conjunctiva in the first 28 days
of life.
 Also known as Neonatal Conjunctivitis.

3. Epidemiology
 Before introduction of silver nitrate eye drops in the late 19th
century, approximately 10% to 15% of newborns developed
bacterial conjunctivitis.
 Current incidence varies by the availability of obstetric care.
 Annual rates of gonococcal and chlamydial conjunctivitis per 1,000 live
births are approximately 0.3 and 5, respectively, in the United States but are
ten times greater in parts of Africa.

4. Epidemiology…
 The risk of corneal complications from ophthalmia neonatorum is
higher among the poor.
 Between 1,000 and 4,000 infants are blinded each year.

5. Predisposing Factors
 Organisms in vagina shed during delivery
 Premature rupture of membranes
 Long delivery
 Few tears and low levels of IgA
 Trauma to epithelial barrier
 Prophylaxis (silver nitrate)

6. Types
 2 types
 Septic
 Aseptic

7. Types…
Aseptic –
 Chemical conjunctivitis mostly
 Silver nitrate - prophylaxis of infectious
conjunctivitis
- Crede’s method of
prophylaxis
 not as common anymore because of the use of erythromycin
ointment

8. Types…
Septic-
 Bacterial, chlamydial (the most common cause), and viral infections are major
causes
 Acquired by passage through birth canal

9. Etiology
 Chemical or Microbial
 Chemical
Silver nitrate
 surface-active chemical, facilitating agglutinate gonococci and inactivating them.
 toxic to the conjunctiva,
 potentially causing a sterile neonatal conjunctivitis.

10. Etiology…
 Microbial
Chlamydia trachomatis
 the most common infectious cause
 4-10% pregnant women infected
 Infants whose mothers have untreated chlamydial infections antepartum have a 30% to 40%
chance of developing chlamydial neonatal conjunctivitis postpartum.
 reservoir- maternal cervix or urethra

11. Etiology…
 Neisseria gonorrhea
 have the ability to penetrate intact epithelial cells, and once inside the cell, they divide rapidly.
 the most dangerous and virulent infectious cause
 must be absolutely excluded in every case
 serious consequences

12. Etiology…
Other bacteria
 Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus viridans, and
Staphylococcus epidermidis.
 Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, and Proteus,
Enterobacter, and Pseudomonas species

13. Etiology…
Herpes simplex
 can cause neonatal keratoconjunctivitis
 rare and is associated most often with a generalized herpes simplex infection

14. Incidence
 Gonococcal 40 per 1000LB
 Chlamydial 80 per 1000LB
 50% has concomitant gonococcal infection
 Chemical Conjunctivitis- decreased with substitution of silver
nitrate.
 Incidence from other causes is relatively rare.

15. Clinical
 Difficult to know cause on clinical ground only
 Significant overlap in presentation
 Main findings are erythema, chemosis & purulent eye
discharge
 Therefore Lab studies are Important

16. Clinical…
Incubation Period
 Chemical conjunctivitis (silver nitrate)- 1st day of life- disappear
spontaneously in 2-4 days
 Gonococcal- 3-5 days or later
 Chlamydial- 5-14 days
 Other bacteria- longer
 Herpetic- within 2wks

17. Clinical…
 Chemical Conjunctivitis
 mild, transient tearing
 Gonococcal
 Bilateral purulent conjunctivitis – classical (75%)
 More severe (hyperacute conjunctivitis)
 Chemosis and ulceration - perforation of cornea and endophthalmitis (inflmn. of ocular cavity & adj.
structures)
 Rhinitis, stomatitis, arthritis, meningitis, anorectal infection, septicemia…
 Conjunctival membrane plus blindness

19. Clinical…
 Chlamydial
 From Mild hyperemia with scant mucoid discharge
 Eyelid swelling, chemosis and pseudo membrane formation
 unilateral or bilateral watery discharge
 which may become more copious and purulent later
 Blindness-rare and slower to develop-b/s of eyelid scarring and pannus (non suppurating inflamed
lymph gland)
 Pneumonitis, pharyngeal and rectal colonization

20. Clinical…
 Other Bacteria
 Similar findings like edema of eye lids, chemosis and eye discharge.
 Pseudomonas is rare but can cause accelerated corneal ulceration and
perforation; if left untreated endophthalmitis and death can occur.

21. Clinical…
Herpes simplex-
 Keratoconjunctivitis, generalized herpes simplex, encephalitis (low immunity)
 nonspecific lid edema, moderate conjunctival congestion
 Non-purulent, unilateral or bilateral discharge
 Geographic ulcers around the skin of the eye are typical
 Conjunctival membrane may be there

22. Work Up
 Gram stain/ Geimsa stain of conjunctival scrapings (rule out
Chlamydia…intracellular inclusion bodies)
 Culture (Thayer-Martin/ chocolate/ blood Agar)
 Direct immunofluorescent antibody
 HSV culture if vesicles are present

24. Treatment
 Prophylaxis
 Antenatal - thorough care of mother and treatment of genital infections
when suspected.
 Cesarean Delivery
 Natal - Topical 0.5% silver nitrate, 1% tetracycline for gonococcal
infection

25. Treatment…
 Medical treatment
 Systemic treatment is mandatory as topical alone in not effective though
helpful
 acute neonatal conjunctivitis should be treated for gonococcal
conjunctivitis until culture results are available

26. Treatment…
 Treatment prior to laboratory results
 Topical erythromycin ointment and
 IV or IM third-generation cephalosporin (ceftriaxone 30-50mg/kg/d IV
or IM. Max 125mg)

27. Treatment…
 Chemical Conjunctivitis
 Eye is regularly flushed and the eyelids cleaned – symptoms disappear
within 1 to 2 days

28. Treatment…
 Gonococcal Conjunctivitis
 Topical administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics (gentamicin
eyedrops every hour)
+
 Systemic penicillin (penicillin G iv 2 million IU daily)
OR
 A single dose of ceftriaxone (75-100 mg/kg/day IV or IM QID for 7
days) is an alternative treatment.

29. Treatment…
 Chlamydial Conjunctivitis
 Topical erythromycin eyedrops (5x/day)
+
 Oral erythromycin (50 mg/kg/d divided QID)
Since the efficacy of systemic erythromycin therapy is approximately 80%,
a second course sometimes is required.

30. Treatment…
 Herpetic Conjunctivitis
 Acyclovir eye ointment
 Systemic acyclovir 30 mg/kg/day IV TID, for 14 days up 21 days (in
sever cases)

31. Reference
 Ophthalmology.-.A.Pocket.Textbook.Atlas.2nd.ed.2007
 Duanes.Ophthalmology.2007.Edition
 Wikipedia