Final answer:
The most important nursing measure to prevent newborn infection is proper hand washing with soap and warm water. Aseptic techniques and maintaining sterile environments are also crucial for preventing sepsis, and applying antibiotic eye drops to newborns prevents eye infections that can lead to blindness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Proper hand washing is the single most critical nursing measure to prevent newborn infection. Utilizing soap and warm running water, medical professionals should engage in strict hand hygiene practices before coming into contact with newborns. This simple yet effective procedure significantly reduces the risk of transmitting pathogens that can cause severe infections in infants.
Furthermore, implementing aseptic techniques when performing medical procedures and maintaining a sterile field is imperative in preventing sepsis in neonates. Neonatal infections such as early onset disease, which can be caused by S. agalactiae, can also be reduced by administering intravenous antibiotics to the mother during labor. Additionally, efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of other serious infections such as HIV are critical.
To address the risk of eye infections from pathogens acquired during a vaginal delivery, it is standard practice to apply antibiotic drops to the infant's eyes shortly after birth. These preventative measures, including the use of antibacterial creams or ointments like erythromycin, are crucial for averting complications such as blindness from gonoccocal ophthalmia neonatorum.