The frequency of ophthalmia neonatorum in hospitalized neonates and newborn babies delivered in the maternity and children teaching hospital in Diwaniah

Abstract

Objectives:Determine the frequency of ophthalmia neonatorum among hospitalized neonates and those delivered in the labor room and operation theatres in the maternity and children teaching hospitals in Diwaniah in addition to determination of the causative microorganisms and their antibiotic sensitivity.Materials & methods:Two hundreds seventy conjunctival swabs were collected randomly from neonates admitted to the septic and aseptic neonatal care units and newborn babies delivered in the labor room and operation theatres in the maternity and children teaching hospitalDiwaniah during the period from September 2002 to February 2003.Results : The clinical and microbiological diagnosis of ophthalmia neonatorum was made in 190 neonates ( 70.3 % ) , 154 cases were due to Gram positive bacteria ( 84.6 % ) and 28 were due to Gram negative bacteria ( 15.4 % ) , six cases were due to Candida . Mostinfections were in neonates aged 1- 5 days . Gram positive bacteria were sensitive to Cefotaxime and resistant to Amikacin , while Gram negative bacteria were sensitive to Tetracycline.Discussion : The results were presented and compared with other studies and concentration on epidemiological and microbiological issues was made. This article is derived from M Sc Thesis submitted by mrs Najlaa Abdullah in partial requirements for the degree of M Sc inMicrobiology 2004