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Use of eyepatches in phototherapy: effects on conjunctival bacterial pathogens and conjunctivitis
1Department of Pediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Insights
Eye patches used during phototherapy for newborns significantly increased the risk of eye infections and conjunctivitis compared to headbox protection. Alternative eye protection methods are recommended for infant phototherapy.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious disease
Background:
- Phototherapy is a common treatment for neonatal jaundice.
- Eye protection is crucial during phototherapy to prevent retinal damage.
- Traditional eye occlusion methods may pose infection risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the incidence of eye infections in newborns receiving phototherapy with eye occlusion versus headbox protection.
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of different eye protection methods during neonatal phototherapy.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial was conducted with full-term newborn infants undergoing phototherapy.
- Infants were allocated to either eye occlusion with eyepatches or eye protection via a light-proof headbox.
- Pathogen isolation, purulent eye discharge, and clinical conjunctivitis were assessed.
Main Results:
- Infants using eyepatches had a significantly higher rate of pathogen isolation from eyes compared to the headbox group (33/102 vs. 14/101).
- The eyepatches group showed significantly higher rates of purulent eye discharge (23/102 vs. 9/101) and clinical conjunctivitis (13/102 vs. 2/101).
Conclusions:
- Eyepatches used for eye occlusion during phototherapy in newborns are associated with an increased risk of eye infections.
- Clinical conjunctivitis and purulent discharge were more prevalent in the eyepatches group.
- Alternative eye protection methods should be considered to minimize infection risk in infants undergoing phototherapy.
Abstract:
We conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of eye occlusion on the risk of eye infection in full term newborn infants receiving phototherapy. Among 102 infants whose eyes were occluded with eyepatches, pathogens were isolated from 50 eyes of 33 infants. The positive isolation rate was significantly higher than that of a group of control infants (n = 101) whose eyes were protected by a headbox made of light-proof plastics. Among the latter group pathogens were detected in 22 eyes of 14 infants. In addition significantly more infants in the eyepatches group had purulent eye discharge (23 of 102 vs. 9 of 101, P = 0.013) and clinical conjunctivitis (13 of 102 vs. 2 of 101, P = 0.004) than the controls. Proper eye care is imperative when eyepatches are used on infants receiving phototherapy, and alternative methods of eye protection should be considered.