Microbiological study of neonatal conjunctivitis with special reference to Chlamydia trachomatis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the microbial agents, chiefly Chlamydia trachomatis and other bacteria, in neonatal conjunctivitis.


METHODS
Conjunctival specimens from 70 newborns with conjunctivitis were subjected to bacterial culture and sensitivity testing, monoclonal antibody based C. trachomatis antigen detection test and species-specific Chlamydia antibody detection in the sera of babies and their mothers, by micro-immunofluorescence assay.


RESULTS
Bacteria were isolated from 35 (50%) babies; the majority (20, 57.14%) were Staphylococcus epidermidis. C. trachomatis antigen was detected in conjunctival smears of 17 (24%) babies, and 6 (35.29%) of them were positive for other bacteria. Six babies and their mothers tested positive for C. trachomatis Ig G antibodies. At follow-up after 14 weeks, 6 (35.29%) of the Chlamydia antigen-positive babies were found to have developed recurrent conjunctivitis.


CONCLUSIONS
C. trachomatis is responsible for almost a quarter of all cases of neonatal conjunctivitis, with recurrences in 35% of cases. Bacteria could be isolated from 50% of the patients though the exact role of Staphylococcus epidermidis, isolated from 28.65% of the neonatal conjunctivitis cases, remains unclear.
Mohile
Mukula
M
Department of Paediatrics, RP Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
Deorari
Ashok K
AK
Satpathy
Gita
G
Sharma
Anjana
A
Singh
Meharban
M
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009878:Ophthalmia Neonatorum / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions