No Images? Click here MEMO: Opt-Out Process of Mandatory Prophylactic Eye Treatment for Opthalmia Neonatorum and Erythromycin Ointment Shortage, Jan. 29, 2019TO: Health care professionals in the Niagara region FROM: Gayane Hovhannisyan, MD, MPH, PhD, FRCPC, Acting Associate Medical Officer of Health REFERENCE: Opt-Out Process of Mandatory Prophylactic Eye Treatment for Opthalmia Neonatorum and Erythromycin Ointment Shortage DATE: Jan. 29, 2019 Opt-Out Process of Mandatory Prophylactic Eye Treatment for Opthalmia Neonatorum Effective January 1, 2019, an amendment to Regulation 557 under Health Protection and Promotion Act allows parents, under certain conditions, to opt-out of the mandatory prophylactic eye treatment administered to all infants at birth to prevent infectious Ophthalmia Neonatorum, especially due to chlamydia and gonorrhea. An opt-out request, made by a parent in writing to their healthcare professional, may only be granted if the healthcare professional attending at the birth of the child is satisfied that
Risk factors for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) include young individuals (under the age of 25), multiple sexual partners, partner has other sexual partners, no testing for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea with prenatal care, history of STIs and/ or substance use. Erythromycin Ointment Shortage On Jan. 11, 2019, Public Health was notified of ongoing national shortage of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment, indicated for the prophylaxis of Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
For more information, please contact the Sexual Health program at 1-888-264-5757 or 905-688-3817 during office hours Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Resources The amendment to the Health Protection and Promotion Act, Regulation 557 can be downloaded at: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/common/legislation/opth_neo/default.aspx |