Bacterial conjunctivitis is an infection of the mucus lining of the front of the eye and inside of the eyelids. This type of infection is most common in children, the elderly, and those who are immunocompromised.
Often this infection is caused by bacteria such as staphylococcus, streptococcus, or Haemophilus. Symptoms are usually excess mucus discharge, redness around the eyes, matting of the eyelid and eyelashes, and blurred vision. Treatment will include antibiotics in either eye drops, oral pills, or IV injections.
What is the Conjunctiva?
The white of the eye is covered by a clear, thin mucus membrane that is known as the conjunctiva.
The conjunctiva covers the sclera, the white part of the eye, and extends to also cover the inside surface of the upper and lower eyelids.
The functions of the conjunctiva include protecting the eyes, lubricating the eye, and producing mucus to help stabilize the tear film.
Any inflammation of the conjunctiva can lead to conjunctivitis. This can be a result of infection, allergies, or systemic inflammation.
Causes of Bacterial Conjunctivitis
If there is a bacterial infection of the conjunctiva, it will lead to bacterial conjunctivitis.
Any bacteria can potentially cause bacterial conjunctivitis, but the most common causes are staphylococcus and streptococcus species of bacteria.
Other potential bacterial causes include Haemophilus, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
Symptoms of Bacterial Conjunctivitis
An eye with bacterial conjunctivitis will typically exhibit excessive discharge of mucus and result in debris on the eyelashes and eyelids.
This may also cause matting of the eyelashes and eyelids, especially in the morning.
The inflammation of the conjunctiva can cause the eyes to appear very red or bloodshot. It may also cause mild irritation or discomfort in the eyes.
Due to the mucus and the inflammation, vision may become slightly blurred or intermittently decrease.
Diagnosing Bacterial Conjunctivitis
Bacterial conjunctivitis can be diagnosed with an eye examination.
Often, symptoms and the overall appearance of the eye will be very indicative of bacterial conjunctivitis.
An evaluation with a microscope will asses if other parts of the eyes are involved or if the infection has caused surrounding damage.
To identify the specific organism causing bacterial conjunctivitis, a culture can be performed.
This takes a sample of mucus from the eye and then tests it for different bacterial infections in a lab setting.
Identifying the exact cause of bacterial conjunctivitis can aid in the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis.
Treatment for Bacterial Conjunctivitis
Treating bacterial conjunctivitis will involve some use of antibiotics.
For the majority of cases, eye drops are used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis.
These antibiotic eye drops can be prescribed to be used up to every hour to resolve the infection.
If bacterial conjunctivitis has associated systemic symptoms, such as a swollen lymph node, sore throat, or sinus infection, an oral antibiotic may be prescribed instead of or in addition to an eye drop.
In the most severe cases, bacterial conjunctivitis may need to be treated with an IV antibiotic and monitored in an inpatient hospital setting.