Epidemiology of neonatal conjunctivitis.

Chlamydial conjunctivitis was diagnosed in 46 of 100 infants less than two months old presenting with conjunctivitis. Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Hemophilus species were most frequently identified in the remainder. All infants with chlamydial conjunctivitis were black and were born by vaginal delivery (P less than 0.001). Average age at presentation was 13 days for chlamydial and 21 days for other causes of bacterial conjunctivitis (P less than 0.001) with symptoms present an average of five to six days prior to presentation. There was no statistically significant difference in sex, birthweight, APGAR scores, bilaterality, fever, or prophylactic drops administered. Mothers of infants with chlamydial conjunctivitis averaged 19.5 years old versus 23.0 for the bacterial group (P less than 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in past obstetrical or sexually transmitted disease history. Persistent chlamydial conjunctivitis following a two-week course of oral erythromycin as recommended by Centers for Disease Control was documented in 19% of patients with chlamydial infection.