ROP Screening: Current Practice - Best Practice

Timely examinations for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and prompt surgical intervention have proven essential in reducing blindness among premature infants.  But, ROP examinations are not without risk.  The immunocompromised status of preterm infants places them at increased risk of serious infection.  A number of studies have documented a link between ROP examinations and nosocomial infections, in some cases severe enough to cause death.  The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) recommends sterilization or high level disinfection for instruments coming in contact with mucous membranes.

Significant reduction of the risk of infection that can be achieved by following best practice:
• Supplying sterile speculae and scleral depressors to ophthalmologists,
• Using separate sterile instruments for each examination,
• Having sufficient supplies for multiple examinations,
• Not using outside instruments brought into the NICU,
• Not reusing instruments.

Click here to download the ROP Kit brochure...

Simplifies instrument management
• Single-use peel packs, in boxes of 20 for easy dispensing,
• Eliminates inconvenience of gathering, processing, sterilizing, and distributing reusable instruments. Safer
• Reduces risk of infection,
• New, sterile instruments always available for each examination,
• Eliminates need to bring outside instruments into the NICU.

Specifically designed for examining neonatal infants
• Disposable speculum
   - Lighter weight,
   - More appropriate size,
   - Better flex characteristics,
   - Easier to insert and remove,
   - Does not impair visualization during exam,
   - Does not evert infants’ lids, reducing prolapse of conjunctiva
• Double-ended depressor allows four distinct orientations.

Robert W. Hered, MD, FAAP, the inventor of the kit, is Chief, Division of Ophthalmology, Nemours Children's Clinic, Jacksonville, FL - USA, and assistant professor of ophthalmology, Mayo Medical School.
US patent N° 6,440,065
 
Click here to view: Trends in Incidence of Late-Onset Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus auras Infection in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: Data From the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System, 1995-2004; The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal: July 2009