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Infant Infections: Watchful Waiting Is Best Approach

The June 2003 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine reports that when it comes to fighting a potentially serious newborn infection called Chlamydia trachomatis, the best approach may be to just watch and wait.

Pregnant women infected with the bacterial infection can pass it along to their babies during the delivery process. Standard procedure used to require that all infants exposed to the bacteria automatically be given the antibiotic erythromycin.

This led to two problems. One, erythromycin was found to cause a serious stomach condition called pyloric stenosis in infants. Two, not all infants exposed to the bacteria became infected with it and to treat them with the antibiotic exposed them to the associated dangers of the drug.

Hence, the new approach called “watchful waiting.” It involves observing the infants and then only treating those who show signs of having the infection.

Commentary: Imagine that. Waiting to see who develops the infection and then only treating those who actually have it. Interesting concept!

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