Infection notes
Bacterial conjunctivitis:
Redness
Pain: FB sensation
<4/52 duration
Less itchy than other types
Sticky
Purulent discharge
Papillae
Chemosis
*usually bilateral but one eye may be affected before the other
Usually managed in the community.
Non pharmacological:
- Bathe and clean lids
- Advise on contagious nature (no sharing towels etc)
Note school and nursery exclusion is not necessary now.
Pharmacological:
- Often resolves in 5-7 days without treatment
- Topical antibiotics can be used if necessary
o Chloramphenicol 0.5% eyedrops: one drop every 2 hours for 48 hours, then
every 4 hours during waking hours for 5 days
o 1% ointment: small amount into affected eye 4 x daily for 2 days then 2 x
daily for 5 days
- If px is a CL wearer should be treated with a topical antibiotic which is affective
against gram negative organisms (aminoglycoside)
o Gentamycin (IP)
Microbial keratitis (bacterial/fungal)
- Contact lens wear
Ocular surface disease
- Ocular trauma
- Immune compromise
- Topical steroid use
- Lid margin infection
Symptoms:
- Pain (mod to severe)
- Acute onset
- Redness
- Photophobia
- Unilateral
- Vision affected
Signs:
- Lid oedema
- Epiphora
- Discharge
- Corneal lesion (usually single) – stains with NaFl
Bacterial conjunctivitis:
Redness
Pain: FB sensation
<4/52 duration
Less itchy than other types
Sticky
Purulent discharge
Papillae
Chemosis
*usually bilateral but one eye may be affected before the other
Usually managed in the community.
Non pharmacological:
- Bathe and clean lids
- Advise on contagious nature (no sharing towels etc)
Note school and nursery exclusion is not necessary now.
Pharmacological:
- Often resolves in 5-7 days without treatment
- Topical antibiotics can be used if necessary
o Chloramphenicol 0.5% eyedrops: one drop every 2 hours for 48 hours, then
every 4 hours during waking hours for 5 days
o 1% ointment: small amount into affected eye 4 x daily for 2 days then 2 x
daily for 5 days
- If px is a CL wearer should be treated with a topical antibiotic which is affective
against gram negative organisms (aminoglycoside)
o Gentamycin (IP)
Microbial keratitis (bacterial/fungal)
- Contact lens wear
Ocular surface disease
- Ocular trauma
- Immune compromise
- Topical steroid use
- Lid margin infection
Symptoms:
- Pain (mod to severe)
- Acute onset
- Redness
- Photophobia
- Unilateral
- Vision affected
Signs:
- Lid oedema
- Epiphora
- Discharge
- Corneal lesion (usually single) – stains with NaFl
