OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM in Italy: it is time for change

doi:10.1186/s13052-021-01186-2

. 2021 Dec 18;47(1):238.

doi: 10.1186/s13052-021-01186-2.

OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM in Italy: it is time for change

Cinzia Auriti¹, Vito Mondì², Salvatore Aversa³, Daniele Merazzi⁴, Simona Lozzi⁵, Sergio Petroni⁶, Antonio Baldascino⁷, Luca Massenzi⁸, Roberto Bellù⁹, Stefano Martinelli¹⁰, Fabio Mosca^{11

12}

Affiliations

¹ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Medical and Surgical Department of Fetus, Newborn and Infant - "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy. cinzia.auriti@opbg.net.
² Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Policlinico Casilino Hospital, Rome, Italy.
³ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Children's Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
⁴ Division of Neonatology, 'Valduce' Hospital, Como, Italy.
⁵ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Medical and Surgical Department of Fetus, Newborn and Infant - "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
⁶ Ophthalmology Department, Bambino Gesù IRCCS Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
⁷ Ophtalmology Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
⁸ Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, 'S. Giovanni Calibita' Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Rome, Italy.
⁹ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, ASST, Lecco, Italy.
¹⁰ Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy.
¹¹ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
¹² Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

PMID: 34922593
PMCID: PMC8684088
DOI: 10.1186/s13052-021-01186-2

OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM in Italy: it is time for change

Cinzia Auriti et al. Ital J Pediatr. 2021.

. 2021 Dec 18;47(1):238.

doi: 10.1186/s13052-021-01186-2.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Medical and Surgical Department of Fetus, Newborn and Infant - "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy. cinzia.auriti@opbg.net.
² Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Policlinico Casilino Hospital, Rome, Italy.
³ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Children's Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
⁴ Division of Neonatology, 'Valduce' Hospital, Como, Italy.
⁵ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Medical and Surgical Department of Fetus, Newborn and Infant - "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
⁶ Ophthalmology Department, Bambino Gesù IRCCS Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
⁷ Ophtalmology Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
⁸ Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, 'S. Giovanni Calibita' Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Rome, Italy.
⁹ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, ASST, Lecco, Italy.
¹⁰ Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy.
¹¹ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
¹² Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

PMID: 34922593
PMCID: PMC8684088
DOI: 10.1186/s13052-021-01186-2

Abstract

Ophthalmia neonatorum (ON) refers to any conjunctivitis occurring in the first 28 days of life. In the past Neisseria gonorrhoeae was the most common cause of ON. It decreased with the introduction of prophylaxis at birth with the instillation of silver nitrate 2% (the Credè's method of prophylaxis). Today, the term ON is used to define any other bacterial infection, in particular due to Chlamydia Trachomatis. Currently, the WHO reccomends topical ocular prophylaxis for prevention of gonococcal and chlamydial conjunctivitis for all neonates. On the contrary, several European countries no longer require universal prophylaxis, opting for screening and treatment of pregnant women at high risk of infection. And what about Italy? Have a look on Italian history of prophylaxis, starting by the first decree issued in 1940, signed by Benito Mussolini. In the following decades the law has undergone many changes. At the moment, legislation is unclear, therefore careful consideration is required in order to draft the correct appoach.

Keywords: Chlamidya trachomatis; Neisseria Gonorrhoeae; Ophthalmia neonatorum; Prophylaxis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

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References

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1. Newman L, Rowley J, Vander Hoorn S, Wijesooriya NS, Unemo M, Low N, Stevens G, Gottlieb S, Kiarie J, Temmerman M. Global estimates of the prevalence and incidence of four curable sexually transmitted infections in 2012 based on systematic review and global reporting. PLoS One. 2015;10(12):e0143304. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143304. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
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1. Laga M, Plummer FA, Nzanze H, Namaara W, Brunham RC, Ndinya-Achola JO, Maitha G, Ronald AR, D'Costa LJ, Bhullar VB. Epidemiology of ophthalmia neonatorum in Kenya. Lancet. 1986;2(8516):1145–1149. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(86)90544-1. - DOI - PubMed

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[1] American Academy of Pediatrics . Prevention of neonatal ophthalmia. In: Pickering LK, Baker CJ, Kimberlin DW, Long SS, editors. Red Book: 2012 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 29. Elk Grove Village; American Academy of Pediatrics; 2012. pp. 880–882.

[2] American Academy of Pediatrics . Prevention of neonatal ophthalmia. In: Pickering LK, Baker CJ, Kimberlin DW, Long SS, editors. Red Book: 2012 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 29. Elk Grove Village; American Academy of Pediatrics; 2012. pp. 880–882.

[3] Newman L, Rowley J, Vander Hoorn S, Wijesooriya NS, Unemo M, Low N, Stevens G, Gottlieb S, Kiarie J, Temmerman M. Global estimates of the prevalence and incidence of four curable sexually transmitted infections in 2012 based on systematic review and global reporting. PLoS One. 2015;10(12):e0143304. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143304. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Newman L, Rowley J, Vander Hoorn S, Wijesooriya NS, Unemo M, Low N, Stevens G, Gottlieb S, Kiarie J, Temmerman M. Global estimates of the prevalence and incidence of four curable sexually transmitted infections in 2012 based on systematic review and global reporting. PLoS One. 2015;10(12):e0143304. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143304. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Creighton S, Tenant-Flowers M, Taylor CB, Miller R, Low N. Co-infection with gonorrhoea and chlamydia: how much is there and what does it mean. Int J STD AIDS. 2003;14(2):109–113. doi: 10.1258/095646203321156872. - DOI - PubMed

[6] Creighton S, Tenant-Flowers M, Taylor CB, Miller R, Low N. Co-infection with gonorrhoea and chlamydia: how much is there and what does it mean. Int J STD AIDS. 2003;14(2):109–113. doi: 10.1258/095646203321156872. - DOI - PubMed

[7] Jin J. Prevention of gonococcal eye infection in newborns. JAMA. 2019;321(4):414. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.21434. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Jin J. Prevention of gonococcal eye infection in newborns. JAMA. 2019;321(4):414. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.21434. - DOI - PubMed

[9] Laga M, Plummer FA, Nzanze H, Namaara W, Brunham RC, Ndinya-Achola JO, Maitha G, Ronald AR, D'Costa LJ, Bhullar VB. Epidemiology of ophthalmia neonatorum in Kenya. Lancet. 1986;2(8516):1145–1149. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(86)90544-1. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Laga M, Plummer FA, Nzanze H, Namaara W, Brunham RC, Ndinya-Achola JO, Maitha G, Ronald AR, D'Costa LJ, Bhullar VB. Epidemiology of ophthalmia neonatorum in Kenya. Lancet. 1986;2(8516):1145–1149. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(86)90544-1. - DOI - PubMed

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OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM in Italy: it is time for change

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OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM in Italy: it is time for change

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