Is ointment (eye ointment) necessary for newborn eyes?

From the Guidelines

Antibiotic eye ointment is necessary for newborn eyes to prevent serious eye infections, and erythromycin 0.5% ophthalmic ointment is the recommended treatment, applied in a single application to both eyes at birth. This preventive measure is crucial in protecting babies from gonococcal and chlamydial conjunctivitis, which can lead to severe complications, including blindness, if left untreated 1. The application of antibiotic eye ointment is a standard practice in most hospitals and birthing centers, and it is considered a safe and important preventive measure that provides protection against potential infections that might otherwise go undetected.

Key Points

• The most recent and highest quality study recommends erythromycin 0.5% ophthalmic ointment as the preferred treatment for ocular prophylaxis in neonates 1.
• The application of antibiotic eye ointment is a crucial preventive measure against gonococcal and chlamydial conjunctivitis, which can cause severe complications, including blindness, if left untreated.
• The treatment is considered safe and important, and it provides protection against potential infections that might otherwise go undetected.

Benefits and Risks

• The benefits of applying antibiotic eye ointment to newborns include the prevention of serious eye infections and the reduction of the risk of complications, such as blindness.
• The risks associated with the treatment are minimal, and the benefits outweigh the risks, making it a recommended practice in most hospitals and birthing centers 1.

Clinical Implications

• The application of antibiotic eye ointment should be a standard practice in all hospitals and birthing centers, regardless of the mother's infection status.
• The treatment should be applied as soon as possible after birth, and it is essential to ensure that all newborns receive the treatment, regardless of the delivery method.

From the FDA Drug Label

For prophylaxis of neonatal gonococcal or chlamydial ophthalmia, a ribbon of ointment approximately 1 cm in length should be instilled into each lower conjunctival sac. For prophylaxis of ophthalmia neonatorum due to N. gonorrhoeae or C. trachomatis.

Yes, ointment (eye ointment) is necessary for newborn eyes for prophylaxis of neonatal gonococcal or chlamydial ophthalmia or ophthalmia neonatorum 2 2.

• It is used to prevent infection in newborns.
• The specific use is for the prevention of gonococcal or chlamydial ophthalmia.

From the Research

Ointment Necessity for Newborn Eyes

• The use of ointment in newborn eyes is a common practice to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum, an infection that can lead to blindness 3.
• A study found that any prophylaxis, including ointment, compared to no prophylaxis, may lead to a reduction in the incidence of any aetiology conjunctivitis in newborns 3.
• However, the evidence for the effect of ointment on gonococcal, chlamydial, or bacterial conjunctivitis is less certain 3.
• Another study compared the efficacy of antibiotic drops and ointment in reducing bacterial colonization on the lid margin, and found that both were effective, with no statistically significant difference between the two 4.

Administration of Eye Ointment

• Eye drops must be instilled before applying eye ointment, as the ointment can affect the absorption of the eye drop 5.
• Nurses require knowledge of the technique, side effects, and potential interactions associated with systemically or topically applied medicines to the eye to ensure patient safety and optimum outcomes 5.
• Ophthalmic preparations, including ointments, are used to treat various eye conditions, and their use requires careful consideration of pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, and bacteriological characteristics 6, 7.

Types of Ophthalmic Preparations

• Ophthalmic preparations can be in the form of solutions, suspensions, or ointments, with solutions being the most common form used to deliver a drug to the eye 6.
• A review of topical ophthalmic antibacterial preparations found that different preparations have varying pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, and bacteriological characteristics, and that the choice of preparation depends on several factors, including the type of infection and the risk of selecting resistant mutants 7.