ABSTRACT
This prospective, consecutive survey of 3,645 babies delivered at the Mount Hope Women's Hospital from March 1 to November 8, 1990 was to determine the aetiology of neonatal conjunctivitis and to compare 3 methods for detection of Chlamydial infection in material from affected eyes. One hundred and twenty babies presented with purulent conjunctivitis within the first four weeks of life and were investigated for bacterial infection including chlamydia trachomatis. Material from infected eyes was examined for the presence of aerobic bacteria by standard bacteriological methods and for chlamydial infection by fluorescein antibody (FA) test, ELISA method and tissue culture. Staphylococcus aureus (40 percent) and Chlamydia trachomatis (11 percent) were the commonest organisms isolated. The prevalence rate of chlamydia trachomatis was 3.84 percent per 1,000 live births. Tissue culture and ELISA methods were more sensitive than the immuno-fluorescence technique. The cost per test for chlamydia trachomatis by the 3 methods varied from a minimum of TT$37.44 to a maximum of TT$63.11. In spite of the cost, it is recommended that testing for Chlamydial as well as bacterial infections should be a routine part of investigating neonatal conjunctivitis (AU)
