Bacterial Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) Questions & Answers

Updated: Feb 07, 2023
  • Author: Karen K Yeung, OD, FAAO; Chief Editor: Andrew A Dahl, MD, FACS  more...
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Questions & Answers

Overview

How is bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) defined?

What are the risk factors and prevalence of a bacterial etiology for conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What are complications of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What are the signs and symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

When is bacterial culture indicated in the diagnosis of conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

How is bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) diagnosed?

What is the role of a gram stain in the diagnosis of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What is the role of a Giemsa stain in the diagnosis of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

Which cultures may be completed in the diagnosis for bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What is the mainstay of treatment for bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What are alternatives to topical antibiotics for treating bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What causes conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

How does the manifestation of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) vary between gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria etiologies?

What is the basis for treatment choices in bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What is the pathophysiology of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What are the risk factors for bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What is the prevalence of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

How does the prevalence of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) vary by race?

How does the prevalence of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) vary by sex?

How does the prevalence of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) vary by age?

What is the prognosis of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What is mortality risk of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What signs and symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

How is bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) prevented?

What information about bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) should patients be given?

Presentation

What influences the choice of questions to ask when eliciting a clinical history for suspected bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What should be the focus of the history for suspected bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

When should a sexually transmitted etiology of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) be considered?

Which physical findings are characteristic of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

Which slit lamp exam findings suggest uncomplicated bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What is the significance of a finding of a preauricular lymph node in the evaluation of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

How is an eyelid edema characterized in bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

How does bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) affect visual acuity?

How does bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) affect the pupil?

How is a sinus-carotid artery fistula differentiated from bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What are complications of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

DDX

Which conditions should be included in the differential diagnoses of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What are the differential diagnoses for Bacterial Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)?

Workup

What is the focus of medical history and ocular exam for suspected bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

How is transmission of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) prevented during the ocular exam?

How is serious eye disease differentiated from bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What is the role of conjunctival scrapings and cultures in the diagnosis of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What is the role of imaging studies in the evaluation of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

Which procedures may be helpful in the evaluation of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

How are conjunctival scrapings collected in the evaluation of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

Which cultures are needed in the evaluation of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

Treatment

What is the duration of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) and what are the treatment options?

Which antibiotics should be used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What is the role of steroids in the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What are alternatives to topical antibiotics for treating bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

When is inpatient care indicated for bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What are special concerns regarding treatment for bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

When is follow-up indicated for bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What are resources for more information on bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

How do practice patterns vary in prescribing topical antibiotics for bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

Which topical antibiotics should be used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

How are chlamydial and gonococcal infections diagnosed in newborns with bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What are the treatment options for newborns with chlamydial infection bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

What are the treatment options for newborns with gonococcal infection bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

How is blindness prevented in neonates with bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

Ho is bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) prevented?

Which specialist consultations are needed for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

Medications

Which medications are used in the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

How is the choice of antibiotic guided in severe bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)?

Which medications in the drug class Antibiotics are used in the treatment of Bacterial Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)?