Microbiological study of neonatal conjunctivitis with special reference to Chlamydia trachomatis. (1/31)

PURPOSE: To study the microbial agents, chiefly Chlamydia trachomatis and other bacteria, in neonatal conjunctivitis. METHODS: Conjunctival specimens from 70 newborns with conjunctivitis were subjected to bacterial culture and sensitivity testing, monoclonal antibody based C. trachomatis antigen detection test and species-specific Chlamydia antibody detection in the sera of babies and their mothers, by micro-immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: Bacteria were isolated from 35 (50%) babies; the majority (20, 57.14%) were Staphylococcus epidermidis. C. trachomatis antigen was detected in conjunctival smears of 17 (24%) babies, and 6 (35.29%) of them were positive for other bacteria. Six babies and their mothers tested positive for C. trachomatis Ig G antibodies. At follow-up after 14 weeks, 6 (35.29%) of the Chlamydia antigen-positive babies were found to have developed recurrent conjunctivitis. CONCLUSION: C. trachomatis is responsible for almost a quarter of all cases of neonatal conjunctivitis, with recurrences in 35% of cases. Bacteria could be isolated from 50% of the patients though the exact role of Staphylococcus epidermidis, isolated from 28.65% of the neonatal conjunctivitis cases, remains unclear.  (+info)

Transferring policies for treating sexually transmitted infections: what's wrong with global guidelines? (2/31)

The paper uses a case study of the development of syndromic management for treating sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and subsequent policies recommending worldwide use of syndromic management guidelines. These treatment policies emerged in the late 1970s from researchers and public health physicians working in sub-Saharan Africa where they had to treat large numbers of STIs in difficult circumstances. Syndromic management was initially developed in specific local epidemiological and resource situations. By the late 1980s, the World Health Organization had adopted syndromic management as policy, and began to promote it globally in the form of algorithms and training guidelines. Dissemination was assisted by the context of the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS and the apparent effectiveness of syndromic management for treating STIs and slowing the transmission of HIV/AIDS. In the mid 1990s, international donors interested in HIV control and women's reproductive health took it up, and encouraged national programmes to adopt the new guidelines. Implementation, however, was a great deal more complex than anticipated, and was exacerbated by differences between three rather separate policy networks involved in the dissemination and execution of the global guidelines. The analysis focuses on two parts of the process of policy transfer: the organic development of scientific and medical consensus around a new policy for the treatment of STIs; and the formulation and subsequent dissemination of international policy guidelines. Using a political science approach, we analyze the transition from clinical tools to global guidelines, and the associated debates that accompanied their use. Finally, we comment on the way current global guidelines need to be adapted, given the growth in knowledge.  (+info)

A double application approach to ophthalmia neonatorum prophylaxis. (3/31)

AIMS: To investigate if a second drop of 2.5% povidone-iodine ophthalmic solution placed within the first postnatal day would achieve better prophylaxis against ophthalmia neonatorum than a single drop applied at birth. METHODS: A masked, prospective, controlled trial was conducted over a 2 year period in a Kenyan hospital. Randomisation was achieved by alternating weeks of one or two eye drop application to both eyes. All 719 neonates received one drop of the povidone-iodine solution to both eyes at birth, while 317 received a second drop at hospital discharge or 24 (SD 4) hours after delivery, whichever was first. All infants developing conjunctivitis within a month after birth underwent microbiological analysis using Gram and Giemsa stains, direct fluorescent antibody assay for Chlamydia trachomatis, and culture. RESULTS: Of the neonates receiving the one eye drop application, 18.4% returned with a red eye with discharge, 4.0% had organisms found on the initial smear, and 8.2% had a positive culture. The corresponding proportions for the multidrop group were 24.3%, 4.7%, and 10.4%. Of those returning with an inflamed eye, there were no cases of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 4.2% in the single dose group and 3.9% in the double dose group were positive for C trachomatis, and 5.4% and 6.5% respectively for Staphylococcus aureus. At discharge, the eyelid oedema score of the double dose group was mildly greater than the single dose group (1.4 (0.67) v 1.2 (0.73), p=0.0002). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in any other category. CONCLUSION: There is no advantage to administering povidone-iodine prophylaxis against ophthalmia neonatorum twice in the first postnatal day over a single application at birth.  (+info)

The impact of national and international guidelines on newborn care in the nurseries of Piedmont and Aosta Valley, Italy. (4/31)

BACKGROUND: Care procedures for preventing neonatal diseases are carried out according to nurseries' traditions and may be not consistent with the evidence based medicine issues. METHODS: A multi-centric survey was conducted in 2 Regions located in NW Italy (Piedmont and Aosta Valley) in order to collect information on some healthy newborn care procedures. During 2001, a questionnaire was sent to the chief pediatrician in charge to the all 33 nurseries of the region asking the methods used during 2000 as prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum, early and late hemorrhagic disease of newborn, umbilical cord care and recommendations of vitamin D administration. Thereafter, during 2004 the same questionnaire was sent to the 34 chief pediatrician of nurseries to evaluate if the procedures were changed during 2003 according to guidelines. The nurseries care for 32,516 newborns in 2000 and 37,414 in 2003. RESULTS: Aminoglycoside eyes drops as prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum were the first choice in both periods (23 out 33 nurseries in 2000 and 24 out 34 in 2003 p > 0.05; the corresponding figures for newborns were 18,984 out 32,516 newborns vs. 28,180 out of 37,414 p < 0.05). The umbilical cord care was carried out with alcohol in 12/33 centers (13,248 newborns) and dry gauze in 3/33 centers (2,130 newborns) in 2000, the corresponding figures in 2003 were 6/34 centers (p > 0.05), (6,380 newborns, p < 0.05) and 12/34 centers (p < 0.05), (18,123 newborns, p < 0.05). The percentage of newborns receiving of i.m. vitamin K. at birth increased during the study period (15,923/32,104 in 2000 vs. 19,684/37,414 in 2003, p < 0.01), but not the number of nurseries (16 in 2000 and 17 in 2003 p > 0.05). The numbers of parents of newborns who receive the recommendations of oral vitamin K during the first months life decreased from 2000 (25,516/30,606) to 2003 (29,808/37,414, p < 0.01) as well as for Vitamin D recommendation (14,582/30,616 in 2000 vs. 11,051/37,414 in 2003, p < 0.01). Oral vitamin K during the first months of life was recommended by 25 nurseries in 2000 and 27 in 2003 (p > 0.05), the corresponding figures for Vitamin D were 15 and 14 (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In the present study a large variability of procedures among the nurseries was observed. During the study periods, guidelines and evidence based medicine issues have only partially modified the neonatal care procedures In Piedmont and Aosta Valley nurseries. These observations suggest to implement local forum/consensus conference to standardized procedures as much as possible.  (+info)

Recent trends in chlamydial and gonococcal conjunctivitis among neonates and adults in an Irish hospital. (5/31)

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are two important and frequently overlooked causes of neonatal and adult conjunctivitis. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: In order to improve primary treatment, prevention, and control of infection caused by these organisms, an analysis of all cases presenting from July 2002 to December 2006 at a major Irish regional teaching hospital was performed. RESULTS: There were 51 cases of conjunctivitis in total. Among neonates and adults, C. trachomatis was the most common cause of conjunctivitis. Of the adult patients, 75% were men. The annual incidence of adult chlamydial conjunctivitis increased yearly from 2002 and correlated with an overall increase in genital chlamydia infection in the region. Neonatal chlamydial conjunctivitis has an overall incidence of 0.65/1000 live births and is continuing to rise annually. In 2006, gonococcal conjunctivitis accounted for 20% of all cases of conjunctivitis caused by sexually transmitted bacteria presenting to our hospital. CONCLUSIONS: The recent increase in the incidence of gonococcal keratitis serves to remind us that this important infection should be borne in mind when treating cases of purulent conjunctivitis. The diagnosis of chlamydial and gonococcal conjunctivitis requires a high index of suspicion and prompt treatment with systemic antibiotics.  (+info)

Ophthalmia neonatorum caused by Neisseria cinerea. (6/31)

Neisseria cinerea is an organism that has only recently been implicated as a human pathogen. In this case, N. cinerea was identified as the cause of ophthalmia neonatorum (conjunctivitis) in a 2-day-old girl.  (+info)

Treatment and prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum. (7/31)

QUESTION: In my office I occasionally see neonates with conjunctivitis. What are the current recommendations for ocular prophylaxis at birth? Do topical antibiotics alone provide adequate treatment of neonatal conjunctivitis? When is systemic therapy indicated? ANSWER: All infants should receive ocular prophylaxis at birth to prevent gonococcal ophthalmia. Neonates presenting with signs of conjunctivitis should have a conjunctival swab sent for Gram stain and culture. If Gram-negative diplococci are present on the Gram stain results, the infants and their parents should be treated immediately for presumed gonorrhea. Infants with chlamydial infection should be treated with oral antibiotics. Most of all other forms of bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated with topical antibiotics, with the exception of Pseudomonas infection. Infants should be followed during their treatment and upon completion of therapy to ensure resolution of symptoms. For cases in which sexually transmitted bacteria are implicated, the mothers and their sexual partners should be treated.  (+info)

Epidemiology and control of gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum. (8/31)

From a public health point of view gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum (GCON) is important as it can rapidly lead to blindness. The frequency of GCON is determined by the prevalence of maternal gonococcal infection. In most industrialized countries the prevalence of gonorrhoea in pregnant women is less than 1%; in developing countries the rates are between 3% and 15%, more than 50% being due to penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains (PPNG). The rate of transmission from mother to newborn is between 30% and 50%. Strategies for the control of GCON include: (1) prevention of gonococcal infection in women of childbearing age, (2) detection and treatment of gonococcal infection in pregnant women, (3) eye prophylaxis in the newborn at birth, and (4) diagnosis and treatment of GCON. Eye prophylaxis by the instillation immediately after birth of either 1% silver nitrate eye drops or 1% tetracycline eye ointment is very effective. This reduces the GCON incidence by 80% to 95% and is highly cost-effective, particularly in high-risk settings.  (+info)

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