Chlamydial and gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum in The Gambia.
Mabey D., Hanlon P., Hanlon L., Marsh V., Forsey T.
Swabs were taken for isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae from 112 infants with ophthalmia neonatorum attending a hospital in The Gambia. C. trachomatis was isolated from 37 (33%) and N. gonorrhoeae from 28 (25%), with both organisms being present in three cases (3%). A prospective study of 335 neonates was also undertaken in a Gambian town. Fifty-five infants (16%) showed clinical evidence of ophthalmia neonatorum. C. trachomatis was isolated from nine of these (16%) and N. gonorrhoeae from seven (13%).