Erythromycin and fused eyes

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I have a question for everyone. What do you do about Erythromycin when the babies eyes are still fused? In my unit we give it when their eyes open, but is it really necessary? If their eyes are fused at birth wouldn't it be very unlikely for them to get the infection into their eyes during the birth process? I could be way off here, but I was curious what everyone else thought.

Thanks!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

We put it on the eyes fused or not. There could be a small opening that we don't see.

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Specializes in NICU.

Honestly don't know our policy on this. It's in the standing admit orders on babes that come from L&D but I don't know how many people do it on fused eyes. Aren't I helpful?

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Specializes in NICU.

We administer the Erythromycin whether their eyes are fused or not. If they are fused, we keep the tube of the Erythromycin, and re-administer it when the eyes open.

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Specializes in NICU.

We just apply it anyways. It is easier to just do it since it is ordered. We do not reapply after the eyes have opened. I guess all the germs are long gone by that time.

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