Canadian Pediatricians Recommend Against Mandatory Newborn Eye Ointment

Canadian Pediatric Society Advocates Repealing Law

Did you know it is the law in Ontario that all babies receive prophylactic erythromycin eye drops? This law is to help protect newborns against blindness that may be caused by a number of sexually transmitted diseases, namely gonorrhea or chlamydia, transmitted vaginally at birth.

The Society's Position Statement of March 2015 states that most infants in Canada do not require this treatment, that testing during pregnancy or at birth are alternatives. Most importantly, they suggest, that evidence shows, that the erythromycin ointment does not work and at best is NOT the most effective treatment if these STDs were in fact present and posing a danger to the newborn. It is important that you discuss any concerns regarding transmission of STD to your unborn or newborn baby with your doctors and/or midwives.

You can access the link to the Canadian Pediatric Society Position Statement here:

www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/ophthalmia-neonatorum​