[Neonatal conjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis].

Abstract

32 newborns with neonatal Chlamydia trachomatis conjunctivitis were reported. Diagnosis was carried out through immunofluorescent monoclonal antibody of conjunctiva scraping staining; 37 conjunctiva samples were taken from same number of newborn patients not responds to topical antibiotic treatment. The sample came out from two different third level institutions with maternal facilities and attending more than five thousand deliveries per year each one of them. Were studied incidence and clinical picture from neonatal C. trachomatis conjunctivitis. Positive immunofluorescent and conjunctive culture of secretion to C. trachomatis in the sample were 86 per cent (32 out of 37). 19 of the newborns acquired Staphylococcus associated to C. trachomatis (59%): nine with S. aureus in six Staphylococcus negative coagulase was isolated and four with the latest two. Out of 32 patients who demonstrated positive cultures to C. trachomatis (86%), 22(69%) were males and ten (31%) were females. Significant proportion of newborns were identified as small for gestational age. 18 of them were born by natural way and 14 by cesarean section. In 16/32 (50%) had interstitial pneumonia by Chlamydia. The main clinical findings were stated as: conjunctiva exudate in different stages including purulent secretion and oedema or inflammation of the ophthalmic conjunctiva. Those newborns where topical therapy did not irradiate the organism and demonstrated clinical picture persistence or relapse and diagnosis of C. trachomatis infection, systemic treatment with erythromycin and topic tetracycline were installed, disappearing all symptoms. Maternal history related to neonatal disease were mainly: endocervical infection, miscarriages and or preterm delivery.