Final answer:
Erythromycin is an antibiotic ointment that is applied to newborns' eyes to prevent eye infections. This preventative treatment is important for infants born to mothers with certain sexually transmitted infections. It helps protect the baby from serious complications and vision loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
Erythromycin is an antibiotic that is commonly administered to newborns as a preventative treatment for eye infections. This medication is applied as an ointment in the infant's eyes shortly after birth. The purpose of this treatment is to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum, which is inflammation of the conjunctiva in newborns caused by bacteria transmitted during childbirth.
By applying erythromycin ointment, the nurse helps protect the newborn from contracting eye infections that could lead to serious complications, including vision loss or permanent blindness. This preventative measure is especially important for infants born to mothers with certain sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia, as these infections can be transmitted to the baby during delivery.