MEMO: Opt-Out Process of Mandatory Prophylactic Eye Treatment for Opthalmia Neonatorum and Erythromycin Ointment Shortage, Jan. 29, 2019

TO: 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

The parent of the child making the request has received information on the benefits and risks of administration of the ophthalmic agent as part of their routine prenatal care; as well as Information on the likely consequences of non-administration of the ophthalmic agent as part of their routine prenatal care; AND
An assessment has been done by a health care provider to confirm there is low risk of transmission to the child of an infectious agent that might cause Ophthalmia Neonatorum

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.

Despite the ongoing national shortage, there is currently sufficient supply of Erythromycin ointment in Niagara Region
The parental opt-out provision cannot be used as a mechanism to address the current nationwide shortage of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment
At this time, there is no defined end date for the shortage
We will provide updates as further information becomes available

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