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Severe ophthalmia neonatorum in Southwest China: a 5-year review of demographics, microbiological results, and risk factors

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the microbiological characteristics and risk factors of severe ophthalmia neonatorum (ON) in Southwest China.

Methods

In this retrospective review, data on demography, microbiological results, and risk factors were analyzed. Data were obtained from medical records of patients with severe ON treated at Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2015 to December 2019. To understand the risk factors for severe ON, maternal and neonatal factors were compared between the severe and non-severe ON groups.

Results

A total of 1397 neonates with ON were included, of whom 12% (n = 172) had severe ON, and 88% (n = 1225) had non-severe ON. Microbial detection and drug susceptibility tests were performed on 169 patients with severe ON. Culture results were positive for 76 patients, with gram-positive bacteria in 71.1% (n = 54), gram-negative bacteria in 25.0% (n = 19), and multiple microorganisms in 3.9% (n = 3) neonates. The most commonly detected organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (29%) and Staph. epidermis (27%), followed by Escherichia coli (8%). Neisseria gonorrhea (8%), Moraxella catarrhal (5%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (4%), Haemophilus influenza (4%), and Chlamydia trachomatis (1%).

The main risk factors for severe ON were obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct (χ2 = 10.794, P = 0.001), meconium aspiration syndrome (χ2 = 6.252, P = 0.012), and cesarian section (χ2 = 5.118, P = 0.024). Neonatal ocular prophylaxis was a protective factor for severe conjunctivitis (χ2 = 6.905, P = 0.009).

Conclusions

Staphylococcus is the most common pathogen of severe ON. Nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) is a risk factor for ON.

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Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

Abbreviations

ON:

Ophthalmia neonatorum

NLDO:

Nasolacrimal duct obstruction

STD:

Sexually transmitted diseases

PROM:

Premature rupture of membranes

UTI:

Urinary tract infection

CS:

Cesarean section

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff at the Department of Ophthalmology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University for the clinical information collection.

Funding

Not applicable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 136, Zhongshan 2nd RD, Yuzhong District, Chongqing,, 400014, China

    Xiao-Jiao Tang, Qing Liu, Xin-Ke Chen & Lin Chen

  2. Health Management Center of Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, China

    Jia-Tong He

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  1. Xiao-Jiao Tang
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Contributions

Xiao-Jiao Tang: Data Collection, Data analysis, Manuscript Preparation. Jia-Tong He: Statistical Analysis. Qing Liu: Data Interpretation. Xin-Ke Chen: Data Collection, Literature Search. Lin Chen: Study Design, Manuscript Preparation.

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Correspondence to Lin Chen.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest financial or nonfinancial related to the content of this article.

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This study complied with the tenets of the Declaration of HELSINKI.

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Tang, XJ., He, JT., Liu, Q. et al. Severe ophthalmia neonatorum in Southwest China: a 5-year review of demographics, microbiological results, and risk factors. Int Ophthalmol 42, 2185–2193 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-022-02218-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-022-02218-4

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