ACUTE BACTERIAL CONJUNCTIVITIS

SAI KIRAN

DEFINITION

• Acute bacterial conjunctivitis is characterised by marked conjunctival hyperaemia and mucopurulent discharge from the eye.

ETIOLOGY

Predisposing factors:-

• Flies
• Poor hygienic conditions
• Hot dry climate
• Poor sanitation
• Dirty habits

Causative organisms:-

• Staph. aureus
• Koch-Weeks Bacillus
• Pneumococcus
• Streptococcus

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Mode of infection:-

• Exogenous infections: directly,

vector transmission,

material transfer.

• Local spread: infected lacrimal sac, lids and

nasopharynx.

• Endogenous infections: blood

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CLINICAL FEATURES

Symptoms:

• Discomfort and foreign body sensation,
• Mild photophobia,
• Hyperaemia and Mucopurulent discharge,
• Sticking together of lid margins,
• Slight blurring of vision,
• Coloured halos.

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Congestion, hyperaemia and oedematous eyelids

Signs:

• Flakes of mucopus seen at fornices, canthi and lid margins,
• Conjunctival congestion,
• Chemosis,
• Papillae of fine type seen,
• Oedematous eyelids,
• Petechial hemorrhages,
• Matted cilia with yellow crusts.

COMPLICATIONS

• Superficial punctate epitheliopathy,
• Marginal corneal ulceration,
• Superficial keratitis,
• Blepharitis,
• Dacryocystitis.

TREATMENT

• Topical Antibiotic Therapy:

chloramphenicol(1%)

gentamycin(0.3%)

tobramycin(0.3%)

framycetin(0.3%)

ofloxacin(0.3%)

• Irrigation of conjunctival sac
• Dark goggles
• No bandage
• No steroids
• Anti-inflammatory and analgesics drugs.

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PREVENTION

• Frequently wash hands using antiseptic soap.
• Use single-use towels during the disease to prevent spreading the infection.
• Avoid chemical irritants and known allergens.

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• If in an area where welding occurs, use the proper protective eye wear and screens to prevent damaging the eyes.
• Use a clean tissue to remove discharge from eyes, and wash hands to prevent the spread of infection.

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REFERENCES

• Text book of Ophthalmology, A.K. Khurana.
• Gale Medical Encyclopedia.
• Internet.

THANK YOU