USPSTF Reaffirms Advice on Prevention of Gonococcal Eye Infections in Newborns

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) continues to recommend that all newborns be treated with a topical antibiotic ointment to prevent gonococcal eye infections, according to a Reuters report.

This “A” recommendation, meaning there is high certainty that the net benefit is substantial, matches the task force’s recommendation put forth in 2011.

In the United States, the rate of gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum was estimated to be 0.4 cases per 100,000 live births per year from 2013 to 2017. However, this is likely an underestimate, the task force notes in their January 29 online report in JAMA.

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