Practice Question
The nurse is conducting a prenatal class explaining the various activities that will occur within the first few hours after birth. The nurse determines the session is successful when the couples correctly choose which reason for the use of an antibiotic ointment.
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Prevent infection of the eyes from vaginal bacteria
Rationale:
🔵 An antibiotic ophthalmic ointment, typically erythromycin, is administered within the first 1–2 hours after birth to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum, a severe eye infection caused by exposure to Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis during vaginal delivery.
🔵 These bacteria can cause conjunctivitis that may lead to blindness if untreated, so prophylactic treatment is mandated in many countries.
🔵 The ointment is placed in the lower conjunctival sac of each eye, and the medication acts as a barrier to ascending bacterial infections.
🔵 This is a routine newborn intervention that supports early infection prevention as part of standard neonatal care.
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This question is from Postpartum AMD Newborn Care which contains 41 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: General Exams
- Domain: 🤱🏼Maternity & Newborn Care
- Answer Choices: 4