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Erythromycin Eye Ointment
Erythromycin Eye Ointment ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is preparing to administer erythromycin eye ointment to a newborn.
What is the purpose of this intervention?
Erythromycin eye ointment does not prevent dryness and irritation of the eyes.It is used to treat bacterial eye infections like bacterial conjunctivitis, bacterial keratitis, blepharitis and infectious uveitis.
To prevent ophthalmia neonatorum, a serious eye infection caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia.Erythromycin eye ointment is an antibiotic that kills bacteria and is used to prevent neonatal conjunctivitis, which can lead to blindness if untreated.Erythromycin is the only approved agent available in the United States for prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum.
Erythromycin eye ointment does not prevent retinopathy of prematurity, a condition that can lead to blindness in premature infants.Retinopathy of prematurity is caused by abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina and is not related to bacterial infection.
Erythromycin eye ointment does not prevent conjunctivitis, a common eye infection in newborns.
The correct answer is choice B. To prevent ophthalmia neonatorum, a serious eye infection caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia. Erythromycin eye ointment is an antibiotic that kills bacteria and is used to prevent neonatal conjunctivitis, which can lead to blindness if untreated. Erythromycin is the only approved agent available in the United States for prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum.
Choice A is wrong because erythromycin eye ointment does not prevent dryness and irritation of the eyes. It is used to treat bacterial eye infections like bacterial conjunctivitis, bacterial keratitis, blepharitis and infectious uveitis.
Choice C is wrong because erythromycin eye ointment does not prevent retinopathy of prematurity, a condition that can lead to blindness in premature infants. Retinopathy of prematurity is caused by abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina and is not related to bacterial infection.
Choice D is wrong because erythromycin eye ointment does not prevent conjunctivitis, a common eye infection in newborns.
Conjunctivitis can be caused by viruses, fungi, parasites or allergens, which erythromycin cannot treat. Erythromycin only prevents conjunctivitis caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia.
