AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL STUDY OF EYE INFECTIONS IN NEWBORNS IN KARACHI, SINDH, PAKISTAN
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Keywords
Newborn, Eye infections, Eye swab, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Karachi, Pakistan.
Abstract
Introduction: Newborns can acquire potentially pathogenic microorganisms at birth which can lead to infections among neonates. This study aimed to determine the carriage of pathogenic bacteria at birth and the development of eye infections during the early neonatal period.
Methods: Women admitted to the obstetric ward of two tertiary care hospitals in Karachi were enrolled. Eye swabs of newborns were taken immediately after birth and examined for the presence of bacteria. Neonates were examined on day seven to determine the incidence of eye infections. Data were analyzed using SPSS and SAS soft wares. Risk ratios (RR) and hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated through Cox regression and Weibul regression analysis.
Results: A total of 205 women and newborns were recruited into the study. About 34% (95% CI: 27.48-40.52%) of eye swabs were positive for bacteria. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus species were the most common bacteria. The incidence of eye infections was 20% (95% CI: 14.53-25.47%). The number of vaginal examinations during labor (HR=1.22; 95%CI: 1.02-1.46), presence of bacteria in the eye swab sample taken at birth (HR=2.89; 95% CI: 1.10-7.61), and less than four antenatal visits during pregnancy (HR=5.31 95% CI: 1.37-20.49), were associated with the development of eye infections.
Conclusion: More than one-third of newborns had positive eye swab samples and one-fifth developed eye infections during the first week. Appropriate counseling towards personal hygiene during antenatal visits may help in reducing ascending infections, thus preventing infections in neonates.
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Jaishri Mehraj
Senior Epidemiologist, Polio Eradication and Immunization Cell, Emergency Operations Centre, Sindh Province, Ex-I & I. Depot Rafiqui Shaheed Road near Jinnah Hospital, 75510 Karachi, Pakistan
Sarah Saleem
Aga Khan University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Subhash Guriro
Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU), Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Mohammad Rafiq Khanani
Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Syed Iqbal Azam
Aga Khan University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Nadeem F. Zuberi
Aga Khan University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan