Ophthalmia neonatorum in a tertiary referral children's hospital: A retrospective study

The purpose of this study was to examine the aetiology, investigation and management of ophthalmia neonatorum (ON) presenting to a tertiary referral children's hospital over 5 years.

The eye swab data of all neonates presenting to Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street (Dublin, Ireland) between 1st January 2013 and 3rd September 2018 was analysed. The medical records of all patients with positive eye swab results were retrospectively reviewed.

A total of 157 neonates had positive eye swab results. 54 cases were identified as ON. Chlamydia trachomatis (20.4%) was the most common organism identified, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (18.5%), Haemophilus influenzae (14.8%), Moraxella catarrhalis (7.4%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (5.6%), Escherischia coli (3.7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (1.9%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.9%). A bacterial culture swab was tested in all cases (100%), a C. trachomatis/N. gonorrhoeae PCR swab in 70.4% and a viral PCR swab in 35.2%. On subanalysis of the cases that had C. trachomatis/N. gonorrhoeae PCR testing, C. trachomatis was responsible for 28.9% of cases. 50% of cases were hospitalised, intravenous antibiotics were administered in 46.3% and macrolide therapy was prescribed in 38.9%.

C. trachomatis was the most common cause of ON in this study and may be responsible for an even higher proportion of cases due to incomplete testing. In keeping with studies in different populations, S. aureus, H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae were also common. As a result, an improved management algorithm for cases of ON has been introduced in this centre.