Final answer:
Gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum, a severe eye infection, can occur in newborns if the mother has gonorrhea; it is prevented by applying antibiotic eye drops to newborns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The form of conjunctivitis that may occur if the mother had gonorrhea is called gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum. This condition is a severe type of neonatal conjunctivitis contracted by newborns during passage through the birth canal of an infected mother. Gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium responsible for the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea. The infection may lead to purulent discharge and can cause scarring of the cornea, potentially resulting in vision loss or permanent blindness if left untreated. To prevent such serious outcomes, standard practice includes administering antibiotic eye drops or ointments, such as erythromycin, to newborns shortly after birth.