1. Identify the Culprit by Name
Knowing the various trade names under which the antibiotic chloramphenicol is marketed can go a long way in preventing Gray Syndrome. The syndrome, also known as Gray Baby or Grey Syndrome, is caused exclusively by the administration of chloramphenicol to newborn infants, whose bodies lack the enzyme needed for their livers to metabolize the drug. The most common names by which the powerful antibiotic are known are: Biomicin, Chloromycetin, Chlorsig, Chlornitromycin and Amphicol.
2. Get Vaccinated Before World Travel
Though in both the United States and the United Kingdom, chloramphenicol is now most typically used in topical eye ointments and as a last-choice antibiotic for serious bacterial infections, that's not the case in the rest of the world. In fact, the drug remains on the World Health Organization's essential drug list and is used in many developing countries to fight meningitis, typhoid and cholera. Prevent the possibility of your newborn developing Gray Syndrome by making sure that he receives vaccinations for these diseases before leaving the country. If the baby hasn't arrived yet and Mom is traveling while pregnant, she should be vaccinated.
3. Wash Your Hands After Administering Eye Drops
It may seem like a common-sense admonition, but it's particularly important to make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after administering eye drops to yourself or another person. Many eyedrops and topical ointments used to fight conjunctivitis contain chloramphenicol. Although the drug is quite effective in treating the bacterial infection, if your newborn infant continually comes in contact with it, it has the potential to induce Gray Syndrome. Careful hygiene is a simple way to prevent the reaction.
