ATI Maternal Newborn Related

Review ATI Maternal Newborn related questions and content

A healthcare professional is preparing to administer prophylactic eye ointment to a newborn to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum. Which of the following medications should the healthcare professional anticipate administering?

  • A. Ofloxacin
  • B. Nystatin
  • C. Erythromycin
  • D. Ceftriaxone
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Erythromycin. Erythromycin is the standard treatment for preventing ophthalmia neonatorum, a condition caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis. It is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that effectively prevents bacterial infections in newborns. Ofloxacin (A) is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic not typically used in newborns. Nystatin (B) is an antifungal medication used for treating fungal infections, not bacterial infections like ophthalmia neonatorum. Ceftriaxone (D) is a cephalosporin antibiotic used for various bacterial infections, but it is not the first-line treatment for preventing ophthalmia neonatorum.