Bacterial conjuctivitis pdf

Signs and symptoms, which may include watery eyes and a mucous discharge, usually clear up on their own within about a day. If initial flushing doesn't resolve the symptoms, or if the chemical is a caustic one such as lye, you need to be seen by your doctor or eye specialist as soon as possible.

A chemical splash into the eye can cause permanent eye damage. Persistent symptoms could also indicate that you still have the foreign body in your eye — or possibly a scratch over the cornea or the covering of the eyeball sclera. In both children and adults, pink eye can cause inflammation in the cornea that can affect vision. Prompt evaluation and treatment by your doctor for eye pain, a feeling that something is stuck in your eye foreign body sensation , blurred vision or light sensitivity can reduce the risk of complications.

Keep in mind that pink eye is no more contagious than the common cold. It's okay to return to work, school or child care if you're not able to take time off — just stay consistent in practicing good hygiene. Newborns' eyes are susceptible to bacteria normally present in the mother's birth canal. These bacteria cause no symptoms in the mother. In rare cases, these bacteria can cause infants to develop a serious form of conjunctivitis known as ophthalmia neonatorum, which needs treatment without delay to preserve sight.

That's why shortly after birth, an antibiotic ointment is applied to every newborn's eyes. The ointment helps prevent eye infection. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press.

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Pink eye conjunctivitis Pink eye conjunctivitis is the inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane that lines your eyelid and eyeball. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Preferred practice pattern: Conjunctivitis. San Francisco, Calif. Accessed June 2, Jacobs DS. Accessed June 1, Care of the patient with conjunctivitis. Louis, Mo. Accessed May 28, Riordan-Eva P, et al. New York, N. Rohren CH expert opinion.

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 6, Robertson DM expert opinion. June 4, Classic physical examination findings of bacterial conjunctivitis are conjunctival erythema and purulent discharge. Laboratory and radiographic testing have limited application in the diagnosis and evaluation of bacterial conjunctivitis.

However, conjunctival cultures are the recommended course in cases where ophthalmia neonatorum is suspected, or where copious purulent discharge makes the diagnosis of gonococcal or chlamydial infection more likely. Management of acute bacterial conjunctivitis centers around the decision to initiate antimicrobials based on the physician's clinical assessment and with the consideration of benefits of treatment, the natural course of the disease if left untreated, antibiotic resistance, and the philosophy of antibiotic stewardship.

Several clinical features make the diagnosis of bacterial conjunctivitis more likely; however, the presentation remains variable. Distinguishing bacterial conjunctivitis from other etiologies can be difficult, and practitioners often err on the side of empiric antibiotic therapy. The natural course of untreated bacterial conjunctivitis is the resolution of the infection within one week. Recently, data has shown recorded emerging resistance to most classes of these drugs.

Follow up for acute bacterial conjunctivitis should be encouraged if there is no improvement in symptoms after one to two days. The differential diagnosis for bacterial conjunctivitis includes viral and allergic conjunctivitis. Keratitis and iridocyclitis should be ruled out as corneal infections, and iris inflammation can lead to significant morbidity. The prognosis for uncomplicated bacterial conjunctivitis is good with complete resolution and rare adverse events with both antibiotic treatment and expectant management strategies.

Complications from bacterial conjunctivitis are uncommon; however, severe infections can result in keratitis, corneal ulceration and perforation, and blindness.

Referral to an ophthalmologist is the recommendation in cases of vision loss, non-response to treatment, recurrent infections, corneal involvement, and severe pain or discharge. Patients should receive education on the signs and symptoms concerning for complications of bacterial conjunctivitis.

Contact lens wearers must be instructed to remove lenses until completion of the treatment course and resolution of symptoms. Transmission prevention is essential, with an emphasis on handwashing. Adolescents and adults with gonococcal or chlamydial infection should have counseling on safe sex practices and partner treatment.

Bacterial conjunctivitis provides a common and challenging clinical scenario for practitioners. The variability of presentations makes differentiating bacterial conjunctivitis from other etiologies difficult and has led to the over-prescribing of antibiotics.

The majority of patients first present to the nurse practitioner or primary care provider, and these clinicians should make appropriate referrals to an ophthalmologist if the diagnosis is in doubt or there is vision loss.

At the same time, the primary clinicians should educate patients on hand washing and not sharing personal care items with others during the acute process. Several studies have sought to define characteristics of conjunctivitis that make a bacterial origin more likely and have proposed these findings to improve the management of the condition.

Interprofessional consultation with pharmacists, infectious disease specialists, and ophthalmologists may provide information on local antibiotic resistance patterns and guide clinician therapy. Nursing can evaluate and assist in monitoring patient compliance, treatment progress, and adverse medication reactions on followup visits, or in the case of inpatients, as they administer the medications, and communicate to the prescriber any issues they encounter.

Ophthalmology referral is necessary in complicated cases, and communication with specialists may reinforce the physician's decision to start, or not to start, antibiotic therapy in uncomplicated cases.

Bacterial conjunctivitis requires an interprofessional team approach, including physicians, specialists, specialty-trained nurses, and pharmacists, all collaborating across disciplines to achieve optimal patient results.

This book is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4. Turn recording back on. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. StatPearls [Internet]. Search term. Bacterial Conjunctivitis Micah M. Author Information Authors Micah M.

Continuing Education Activity Conjunctivitis, also informally known as "pink eye," makes up the majority of ophthalmologic disorders seen at primary care clinics. Introduction Conjunctivitis, also informally known as "pink eye," makes up the majority of ophthalmologic disorders seen at primary care clinics.

Etiology Patterns of spread for bacterial conjunctivitis include hand to eye, eye contact with fomite, and person to person through respiratory droplets. Epidemiology Acute conjunctivitis of all causes is estimated to occur in 6 million individuals annually in the United States. Pathophysiology Direct transmission of pathogens onto the conjunctiva leads to infectious conjunctivitis. History and Physical Patients with bacterial conjunctivitis often present complaining of redness, tearing, and discharge from one or both eyes.

Evaluation Laboratory and radiographic testing have limited application in the diagnosis and evaluation of bacterial conjunctivitis. Differential Diagnosis The differential diagnosis for bacterial conjunctivitis includes viral and allergic conjunctivitis. Prognosis The prognosis for uncomplicated bacterial conjunctivitis is good with complete resolution and rare adverse events with both antibiotic treatment and expectant management strategies.

Complications Complications from bacterial conjunctivitis are uncommon; however, severe infections can result in keratitis, corneal ulceration and perforation, and blindness. Consultations Referral to an ophthalmologist is the recommendation in cases of vision loss, non-response to treatment, recurrent infections, corneal involvement, and severe pain or discharge. Deterrence and Patient Education Patients should receive education on the signs and symptoms concerning for complications of bacterial conjunctivitis.

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes Bacterial conjunctivitis provides a common and challenging clinical scenario for practitioners. Review Questions Access free multiple choice questions on this topic.

Comment on this article. Figure Bacterial conjunctivitis. Image courtesy O. References 1. Beal C, Giordano B. J Pediatr Health Care. Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment. Clinical features of bacterial conjunctivitis in children. Acad Emerg Med. Acute bacterial conjunctivitis. Acta Ophthalmol. Pichichero ME. Bacterial conjunctivitis in children: antibacterial treatment options in an era of increasing drug resistance.