A nurse is reinforcing teaching to a student on newborn erythromycin 0.9% ophthalmic ointment administration. Which of the following statements by the nurse should be included in the teaching? (Select All that Apply.)

Choice A rationale This statement is correct. Erythromycin 0.5% ophthalmic ointment is routinely administered to newborns to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum, which is an infection of the newborn's eyes caused by bacteria such as *Neisseria gonorrhoeae* or *Chlamydia trachomatis* acquired during passage through the birth canal. Choice B rationale This statement is incorrect. While the medication prevents neonatal ophthalmia caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs), it is routinely administered to *all* newborns regardless of the mother's STI status. This is due to the potential for asymptomatic maternal infection and to ensure broad-spectrum prophylaxis. Choice C rationale This statement is correct. Cleaning the newborn's eyes from inner to outer canthus before administration removes any discharge or meconium that could interfere with medication absorption or introduce further contamination, ensuring optimal efficacy and preventing the spread of potential pathogens during application. Choice D rationale This statement is correct. Waiting at least one minute after administration before wiping the excess allows the medication sufficient time to spread across the conjunctival sac and be absorbed by the ocular tissues, maximizing its prophylactic effect against potential bacterial pathogens present on the eye surface. Choice E rationale This statement is incorrect. While the medication does treat conjunctivitis, its primary purpose in newborns is prophylactic, meaning it is given to *prevent* neonatal ophthalmia, not to treat existing conjunctivitis. It is administered to all newborns as a preventative measure against specific bacterial infections.