TY - JOUR A1 - Mohile, M A1 - Deorari, Ashok A1 - Satpathy, G A1 - Sharma, A A1 - Singh, M T1 - Microbiological study of neonatal conjunctivitis with special reference to chlamydia trachomatis. Y1 - 2002/10/1 JF - Indian Journal of Ophthalmology JO - Indian J Ophthalmol SP - 295 EP - 299 VL - 50 IS - 4 UR - https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2002;volume=50;issue=4;spage=295;epage=299;aulast=Mohile N2 - PURPOSE: To study the microbial agents, chiefly Chlamydia trachomatis and other bacteria, in neonatal conjunctivitis. METHODS: Conjunctival specimens from 70 newborns with conjunctivitis were subjected to bacterial culture and sensitivity testing, monoclonal antibody based C. trachomatis antigen detection test and species-specific Chlamydia antibody detection in the sera of babies and their mothers, by micro-immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: Bacteria were isolated from 35 (50%) babies; the majority (20, 57.14%) were Staphylococcus epidermidis. C. trachomatis antigen was detected in conjunctival smears of 17 (24%) babies, and 6 (35.29%) of them were positive for other bacteria. Six babies and their mothers tested positive for C. trachomatis Ig G antibodies. At follow-up after 14 weeks, 6 (35.29%) of the Chlamydia antigen-positive babies were found to have developed recurrent conjunctivitis. CONCLUSION: C. trachomatis is responsible for almost a quarter of all cases of neonatal conjunctivitis, with recurrences in 35% of cases. Bacteria could be isolated from 50% of the patients though the exact role of Staphylococcus epidermidis, isolated from 28.65% of the neonatal conjunctivitis cases, remains unclear. ER -