Erythromycin ointment for ocular prophylaxis of neonatal chlamydial infection.
We compared the efficacy of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment vs 1% silver nitrate drops for the prevention of neonatal conjunctivitis or respiratory tract infection from Chlamydia trachomatis. The organism was isolated from the cervix of 67 (12%) of 572 pregnant women. They gave birth to 559 infants who were randomly assigned to either prophylaxis immediately after birth. Thirty-six of 60 infants born to Chlamydia-positive women received silver nitrate; 24 received erythromycin. Twelve (33%) of the 36 infants who received silver nitrate had chlamydial conjunctivitis, but none of the 24 infants who received erythromycin did. Ten (29%) of 36 infants receiving silver nitrate had chlamydial nasopharyngeal infection (three later had pneumonia), as opposed to five (21%) of 24 who received erythromycin (one had pneumonia). Thus, erythromycin ointment is effective in prevention of chlamydial conjunctivitis, but it may not reduce nasopharyngeal infection or subsequent pneumonia.
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003235:Conjunctivitis, Inclusion / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009824:Ointments; D011247:Pregnancy; D012835:Silver Nitrate / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D009824:Ointments; D004917:Erythromycin; D012835:Silver Nitrate