Exam 4 - Newborn Infections and Health Maintenance Flashcards
What is the most common cause of conjunctivitis in newborns? How is it transmitted?
Chlamydia (also respiratory tract infections)
- Vaginal birth carries highest risk of transmission
- Small risk with c-sections
What is the incubation period of chlamydial conjunctivitis? How long before the infection could potentially spread to the other eye?
Incubation period: 5-14 days after birth
Infection starts in one eye but affects the other in 2-7 days
Chlamydial conjunctivitis symptoms
- Mild to significant swelling
- Watery eye discharge
- Mucopurulent or bloody discharge
- Severe infection –> thickened conjunctiva (chemosis)
If left untreated may lead to corneal and conjunctival scarring
Gold standard diagnostic testing for chlamydia conjunctivitis
NAAT
- Nasopharyngeal and conjunctival swabs
- Need scraping of conjunctival epithelial cells (not just exudate)
What other complication could occur other than conjunctivitis for mothers with active chlamydia infection?
Chlamydia PNA
- Occurs in 11-30% of infants - not as common as chlamydia conjunctivitis
When is the onset of chlamydial PNA? What are associated symptoms?
Delayed onset: 2-12 weeks but can be as far out as 19 weeks
Symptoms:
- “Staccato cough”, may be paroxysmal
- Nasal congestion with minimal discharge
- Afebrile
- Rales
What finding would be seen on blood tests for chlamydia PNA? Chest x-ray?
Blood test: eosinophilia
CXR: hyperinflation with bilateral, symmetrical interstitial infiltrates
Diagnostic testing for chlamydia PNA
- CXR
- Nasopharyngeal culture of respiratory secretions
- Symptoms
What is the recommended treatment for chlamydial conjunctivitis and chlamydial PNA? Why isn’t topical therapy indicated?
Erythromycin 50 mg/kg/day PO in four divided doses for 14 days
Topical therapy not indicated; systemic treatment needed because chlamydia colonizes in the nasopharynx and can lead to PNA
Is prophylatic treatment recommened for asymptomatic infants born to mothers with chlamydial infections?
No prophylatic treatment recommended
- Educate mothers to monitor for signs of infection
Should the provider be concerned if newborns are diagnosed with c. trachomatis?
A diagnosis of c. trachomatis in a neonate should prompt evalution for possible n. gonorrhoeae infection
What fetal risks are associated with untreated maternal gonorrheal infection?
Increases risk for preterm labor and chorioamnionitis
Where is the most frequent site of gonorrhea infections in newborns? Why should the provider be concered with such infections?
Ophthalmia neonatorum (conjunctivitis)
- Eye infections with n. gonorrhea can quickly lead to blindness, ulceration, scarring
- AAP recommended that every infant receive eye prophylaxis at birth
The AAP recommends eye prophylaxis for every infant due to risk of blindness with n. gonorrhea infection. What are the treatment options? How much time does the provider have to administer such treatment options?
Treatment can be delayed up to a maximum of one hour after birth
- 0.5% erythromycin ophthalmic ointment
- 1% tetracycline ophthalmic ointment
Ophthalmia neonatorum (gonorrhea): signs and symptoms
When do symptoms normally present?
Symptoms present 2-5 days after birth
- Purulent conjunctivitis
- Profuse exudate
- Swelling of eyelids
Diagnostic testing for gonorrhea (ophthalmic neonatorum)
- Culture and gram stain
- Always consider co-infection with chlamydia
- Treat mother and consider testing for other STIs
- Evaluate for systemic infection - disseminated gonorrheal infection (DGI)
Gonorrhea (ophthalmia neonatorum): treatment and management
- Ceftriaxone 25-50 mg/kg (max 125 mg), IV/IM once
- Isolate infant for 24 hours
Why are newborns more prone to infections that easily lead to sepsis?
Newborns are more susceptible due to immaturity of their immune systems
Early onset infections (sepsis)
- Onset
- Cause
Onset - before 72 hours
Cause - GBS, e. coli, staph
Late onset infections (sepsis)
- Onset
Onset: after 72 hours of life and up to 28 days
If parents say something isn’t right, investigate it
All infants <6 weeks of age with a rectal temperature of ___ or greater need immediate referral to the ER for septic workup
100.4
Signs and symptoms predictive of serious illness and need for hospitalization in infants under 2 months
- Feeding difficulty
- Moves only when stimulated
- Temp under 35.5 or over 37.5 axillary
- RR >66 breaths per minute
- Convulsions
Minor risk factors for neonatal sepsis
- Ruptured membranes >12 hours
- Foul smelling lochia
- Maternal fever >99.5 F (37.5 C)
- Low APGAR <5 at 1 minute, >7 at 5 minute
- Prematurity
- Multiple gestation
Prescence of 2 minor risk factors = high risk of sepsis
Major risk factors for neonatal sepsis
- Ruptured membranes >24 hours
- Maternal fever 100.4 F (38 C)
- Chorioamnionitis
- Sustained fetal heart rate >160 bpm
- Multiple obsteric procedures
Presence of one major risk factor - high risk of sepsis
How are newborn scales of sepsis scored?
Each item is assigned a score: max score is 55 points (20 lab, 35 clinical)
- Score <10 = neonate does NOT have sepsis
- Score >10 = “sick baby”, requires further diagnostic evaluation
Laboratory findings that could indicate neonatal sepsis
- WBC
- Total neutrophil ratio
- Platelet count
- Blood acidity
- ANC
Gold standard labs to diagnose neonatal sepsis
- Blood, urine, CSF
Also includes… CBC with diff, platelet count, chem 7, ABG
Radiologic tests to help diagnose neonatal sepsis
- CXR (if respiratory symptoms are present)
- Abdominal films
- Joint x-rays
Are labs/diagnostic tests 100% accurate in diagnosing sepsis?
There is no laboratory test that is 100% sensitive or specific for sepsis
Normal results do not rule out infection or sepsis in the newborn
True/false: There is a higher incidence of HSV in premature infants, infants with compromised skin integrity (use of scalp electrodes)
True - transmission greatest when a mother has a primary (active) infection
When do symptoms of HSV first appear in newborns?
Symptoms appear any time from birth to 4 weeks of age
HSV signs and symptoms: localized disease
- When do they present?
- Skin infection/vesicular lesions
- Skin, eye, mouth (SEM) disease
Presents in the 1st or 2nd week of life (often at areas of trauma)
HSV signs and symptoms: CNS disease
- When do symptoms occur?
- Encephalitis (involvement of brain/spinal cord)
- Seizures
Occurs more commonly in 2nd to 4th week of life
HSV signs and symptoms: disseminated disease
- When do symptoms present?
Most dangerous of the three
- General symptoms of bacterial sepsis
- Multi-organ involvement
- Frequently DIC
Symptoms present usually within the first week of life