Bacterial conjunctivitis - External and Internal Eye
Alerts and Notices
Synopsis
Patients will typically complain of ocular irritation, redness, foreign body sensation, and tearing associated with increased discharge. Itching is less common in bacterial conjunctivitis.
Inoculation of the conjunctiva is usually by direct hand-eye contact or can be due to direct spread of organisms located in the patient's own nasal passageway or sinuses. Often, patients will have concurrent sinus disease, upper respiratory infection (URI), or infectious dacryocystitis (infection of the lacrimal sac).
The onset of symptoms is usually over days to weeks but can be as short as 24 hours (hyperacute) or as long as years (chronic conjunctivitis). Hyperacute conjunctivitis is typically caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and chronic conjunctivitis is typically caused by Chlamydia trachomatis or Staphylococcus associated with blepharitis. Acute forms of bacterial conjunctivitis are the most common manifestations associated with the diagnosis.
Note: Per January 20, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a multistate cluster of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa ocular infections associated with the use of EzriCare Artificial Tears; the CDC recommends patients immediately discontinue use until the epidemiological investigation and laboratory analyses are complete.
Codes
ICD10CM:H10.89 – Other conjunctivitis
SNOMEDCT:
128350005 – Bacterial conjunctivitis
Look For
Subscription Required
Diagnostic Pearls
Subscription Required
Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
Best Tests
Subscription Required
Management Pearls
Subscription Required
Therapy
Subscription Required
References
Subscription Required
Last Reviewed:08/25/2019
Last Updated:01/31/2023
Last Updated:01/31/2023
Bacterial conjunctivitis - External and Internal Eye