Mr. Johnson, a teacher at Mead High School, noticed that one of the boys in the front row of his first period Biology class seemed to have red and...
1. The most likely diagnosis is bacterial conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is an infection of the mucous membrane (conjunctiva) of the eye.
2. Bacterial conjunctivitis is usually due to infection by Staphylococcus aureus or Haemophilus influenzae. Other bacteria that can cause conjunctivitis include: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Moraxella lacunata, Streptococcus viridans, and Proteus mirabilis.
3. Bacterial conjunctivitis is suspected because the patient has a red, irritated eye with thick discharge.
4. Many antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis. These include: 0.3% Ciprofloxacin, 0.5% Levofloxacin, 0.5% Moxifloxacin, 0.3% Tobramycin, 0.3% Gentamycin, 0.5% Erythromycin, 1% Azithromycin, Bacitracin ointment, Bacitracin/Polymixin B ointment, Neomycin/Polymixin B/Bacitracin, Neomycin/Polymixin B/Gramicidin, Polymixin B/trimethoprim, Sulfacetamide.
5. Bacterial conjunctivitis is contagious. It is spread through direct or indirect contact with infected eye secretions.
6. Defense mechanisms of the eye include:
- Blink reflex - moves foreign objects out of the eye
- Layers in the cornea provide physical barriers
- Native bacterial flora on the lids and mucosal surface help limit infections
- Tears - flush foreign objects out of the eye
- Immune responses in the eye
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