15 Miss. Code. R. 2-11-1.17.12 - Ophthalmia Neonatorum (Neonatal Gonococcal Ophthalmia)

All physicians and healthcare providers attending births must install in the eyes of the newborn no more than 24 hours after delivery an appropriate dose of an antibiotic currently recommended and approved for neonatal ocular prophylaxis for ophthalmia neonatorum.

When recommended antibiotics for neonatal ocular prophylaxis are unavailable or in limited supply, healthcare providers, hospitals and healthcare facilities attending births should adhere to the following recommendations:

1. When supply is limited or unavailable, consider screening for gonococcal infection at delivery for women who were not tested during pregnancy and/or are at risk for infection.

a. If testing is done at delivery, ensure prompt follow up and treatment of both mother and infant if testing is positive.

2. When supply is limited, reserve prophylaxis with appropriate prophylactic ointment for infants at risk for gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum, to include:

a. Infants born to mothers with no prenatal care

b. Infants born to mothers at risk for gonococcal infection (e.g., women aged [GREATER THEN EQUAL TO] 25 years and those aged <25 years who have a new sex partner, more than one sex partner, a sex partner with concurrent partners, a sex partner who has an STI, or live in a community with high rates of gonorrhea)

3. If an appropriate prophylactic ophthalmic antibiotic is unavailable, review and consider following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended alternative neonatal ocular prophylaxis regimen to prevent gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum in those infants with risk factors noted above.

Notes

15 Miss. Code. R. 2-11-1.17.12

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-3-17

Amended 8/12/2015 Amended 3/2/2017 Amended 3/13/2022 Amended 5/20/2024