Abstract:
This is a study conducted on 125 women admitted in labour in
the maternity wing of Muhimbi1i Medical Centre, and in the
babies born of these mothers. The main objective was to find
out the prevalence of intrapartum gonococcal cervical
infection in the mothers and the aetiology of ophthalmia
neonatorum in their babies.
The results showed that the prevalence of maternal gonococcal
infection and incidence of ophthalmia neonatorum in their new
borns were very high. The prevalence of maternal gonococcal
infection was 4%, whereas the incidence of ophthalmia
neonatorum in the babies was 20%.
sta~hylQcoccuS aureus was the commonest orgnism causing
neonatal conjuctivitis, and was isolated in 14 out of 25
babies with ophthalmia (56%). Other bacteria isolated were
stre~tQCOCCUS pneumoniae (1 case) and Staphylococcus albus
(2 cases). Gonococcal conjuctivitis was not seen in the new
borns. There were 8 babies (32%) with clinical conjuctivitis
but with negative cultures.
Organismal resistance to antibiotics was seen in isolates from
mothers as well as in the newborns. Thus, of those mothers
with gonococcal infection, the organisms were resitant to
penicillin in 20% of the cases. Also, amongst babies with
Staphylococcal conjuctivitis, the sensitivity testing showed
that 94% were resistant to penicillin. The organisms were
highly sensitive to erythromycin and chloramphenicol. All
infected babies responded promptly to 0.5% chloramphenical eye
drops.
In conclusion, the incidence of ophthalmia neonatorum in
Muhimbili Medical Centre is high and there is a need for an
effective ocular prophylaxis regime in the neonates. From the
results of culture and sesitivity tests done, either
erythromycin eye drops or chloramphenicol eye drops are
recommended for the treatment and prophylaxis of the neonates.
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