The nurse is providing care for a newborn. Which of the following interventions will the nurse take to prevent development of ophthalmia neonatorum?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ophthalmia neonatorum is an infection of the eyes of the newborn that can be caused by exposure to gonorrhea or chlamydia during delivery. The best intervention to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum is the administration of antibiotic eyedrops, such as erythromycin, to the infant's eyes within an hour of birth. Vitamin K injection is given to newborns to help with blood clotting, interferon injection is not indicated for the prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum, and HBV-immune globulin is used to provide passive immunity to infants born to mothers who are positive for hepatitis B surface antigen.

The Nurse Is Providing Care for a Newborn