Kanika Goel1, Valinderjeet Singh Randhawa2, Arvind Saili3, Shashi Khare4, Ajay Kumar3, Renu Dutta2, Gaurav Goel5. 1. Department of Microbiology, Lady Hardinge Medical College and associated Smt. Sucheta Kriplani Hospital, New Delhi, 110001, India Department of Medicine, University of Kentucky, KY 40536, USA drkanikagoel@gmail.com. 2. Department of Microbiology, Lady Hardinge Medical College and associated Smt. Sucheta Kriplani Hospital, New Delhi, 110001, India. 3. Department of Neonatology, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, 110001, India. 4. Division of Microbiology, National Centre for Disease Control, New Delhi, 110054, India. 5. Department of Medicine, University of Kentucky, KY 40536, USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Healthcare-associated conjunctivitis (HAC) can lead to serious sequelae including blindness. We conducted a one-year prospective study to determine the epidemiology of neonatal HAC at a tertiary-care hospital in India. METHODS: From the neonates fulfilling a set of predefined inclusion criteria, cases of HAC were diagnosed based on CDC guidelines. Conjunctival swabs, obtained from neonates with suggestive clinical signs, were processed using standard protocols. Twenty-eight potential risk factors were analyzed. RESULTS: We detected 24 cases of HAC among 591 enrolled neonates, with Escherichia coli being the most frequently isolated microorganism. On multivariate analysis, intubation at birth (p = 0.046) and orogastric feeding (p = 0.029) had a statistically significant association with neonatal HAC. Average hospitalization increased from 9.6 to 20.8 days for neonates diagnosed with HAC. CONCLUSION: A standardized case-definition and physician awareness of potential serious sequelae would help improve detection rates and timely institution of therapy. Hand hygiene could help control the menace of neonatal HAC.
INTRODUCTION: Healthcare-associated conjunctivitis (HAC) can lead to serious sequelae including blindness. We conducted a one-year prospective study to determine the epidemiology of neonatal HAC at a tertiary-care hospital in India. METHODS: From the neonates fulfilling a set of predefined inclusion criteria, cases of HAC were diagnosed based on CDC guidelines. Conjunctival swabs, obtained from neonates with suggestive clinical signs, were processed using standard protocols. Twenty-eight potential risk factors were analyzed. RESULTS: We detected 24 cases of HAC among 591 enrolled neonates, with Escherichia coli being the most frequently isolated microorganism. On multivariate analysis, intubation at birth (p = 0.046) and orogastric feeding (p = 0.029) had a statistically significant association with neonatal HAC. Average hospitalization increased from 9.6 to 20.8 days for neonates diagnosed with HAC. CONCLUSION: A standardized case-definition and physician awareness of potential serious sequelae would help improve detection rates and timely institution of therapy. Hand hygiene could help control the menace of neonatal HAC.
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