Podcast 726: Ophthalmia Neonatorum

<p><strong>Contributor: Peter Bakes, MD</strong></p> <p><strong>Educational Pearls:</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Ophthalmia Neonatorum encompasses any conjunctivitis that presents within the first 28 days of life</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Neonates often receive prophylactic silver nitrate eye drops for gonorrhea prophylaxis, but the drops can cause chemical conjunctivitis</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Etiology & Timing of Presentation:</span></li> <li style="list-style: none; display: inline"> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Silver nitrate conjunctivitis presents 0-2 days after birth</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Neisseria gonorrhae</span></em> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">presents 2-5 days after birth</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Chlamydia trachomatis</span></em> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">presents 5 days to 5 weeks</span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Neisseria gonorrhoeae</span></em> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">conjunctivitis is vision-threatening, typically requiring admission and  IV antibiotics with a 3rd generation cephalosporin</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>References</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Castro Ochoa KJ, Mendez MD. Ophthalmia Neonatorum. [Updated 2021 Jul 22]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551572/</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">US Preventive Services Task Force, Curry SJ, Krist AH, et al. Ocular Prophylaxis for Gonococcal Ophthalmia Neonatorum: US Preventive Services Task Force Reaffirmation Recommendation Statem