A study of Ophthalmia Neonatorum in the Central Reion of Ghana: Causative Agents and Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns

Abstract

In developing countries such as Ghana, ophthalmia neonatorum (ON) remains a public health concern. This is because of its unknown etiology patterns, the growing concerns of antibiotic resistance strains and the contribution of ON to childhood blindness. This study was therefore conducted to determine the causative agents, risk factors and the antibiotic sensitivity patterns of micro-organisms associated with ON. A clinic-based prospective study was conducted in the Maternal and Child Health units of 6 health care facilities in the Central region of Ghana over a period of 17 months. Conjunctival swabs were taken from all neonates with clinical signs of ON. Isolation and characterization of bacteria were done using standard microbiological methods. Additionally, data were collected and analyzed on neonate’s demographics and clinical features of ON. Microbial growth was recorded in 86 cases (52.4%) out of the 110 neonates assessed. Staphylococcus spp. (39.2% of all positive cultures) was the most common causative organism. No case of gonococcus was isolated. Delivery method, vaginal discharge, administration of prophylaxis and weight of neonate were the risk factors associated with the development of ON ( P < .05). The level of resistance to Tetracycline was found to be 73%. Neonatal conjunctivitis is more likely to be acquired postnatal. Culture and sensitivity testing are required as an important guide for treatment. The commonest causative organism, Staphylococcus spp., were found to be resistant to Teteracyline, therefore is the need to consider alternatives measures in the prevention and control of ON.

Ophthalmia neonatorum complicated with neonatal orbital cellulitis: A case series

“…In the present cases, the infection may have started from vertical transmission from the mothers who had a history of UTI and vaginal candidiasis, leading to perinatal infection and, subsequently, ophthalmia neonatorum. 12 Later, the delayed treatment of ophthalmia neonatorum may have contributed to the development of orbital cellulitis. A study conducted in Ilorin found that antenatal maternal vaginal discharge is also one of the predisposing factors of ophthalmia neonatorum.…”

“…A study conducted in Ilorin found that antenatal maternal vaginal discharge is also one of the predisposing factors of ophthalmia neonatorum. 12 …”

Effect of the Clinical Usage of Tetracaine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution on Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

“…In children, the disease is often caused by Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis (Fishovitz et al, n.d.). The course of the disease usually lasts 7 to 10 days the reason for the decline in the clinical scores of conjunctivitis in the rabbits in the control group (Boadi-Kusi et al, 2021). Signs and symptoms include red eye, purulent or mucopurulent discharge, and chemosis (Fishovitz et al, n.d.).…”

Case series and literature review of chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum in Botswana

“…Ophthalmia neonatorum is an ongoing public health problem in countries or settings where prevention strategies are inadequate. [2][3][4][5][6] The etiology of ophthalmia neonatorum is most commonly due to sexually transmitted bacteria such as Neisseria (N.) gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis but could also arise from non-sexually transmitted bacteria or less often from viral and chemical sources. 7 For neonatal conjunctivitis due to sexually transmitted bacteria, the presence of perinatal maternal infection is the predisposing factor.…”