Diseases of the Eyes, Ears, and Wounds - Exam 4

What are 5 diseases of the eyes

1. Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

2. Ophthalmia neonatorum

3. Trachoma

4. Keratitis

5. Ocular histoplasmosis

What is the conjunctiva?

inflammation of the lining of eye + eyelid

COVERS all parts of the eye

What is the cornea?

outer tissue layer of the eye

What is conjunctivitis?

infection of the conjunctiva, "pink eye"

Is conjunctivitis bacterial, viral, or fungal?

can be viral or bacterial

Viral conjunctivitis

clear discharge

Bacterial conjunctivitis

purulent discharge

Treatment for bacterial conjunctivitis? Viral conjunctivitis?

Bacterial: antibiotic eye drops

Viral: none

What is ophthalmia neonatorum?

newborn conjunctiva

What is the organism that causes ophthalmia neonatorum?

chlamydia or gonorrhea

How is ophthalmia neonatorum transmitted?

during vaginal birth

Prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum

all newborns treated

Treatment for ophthalmia neonatorum

antibiotic eye drops/ointment

Is ophthalmia neonatorum bacterial, viral, or fungal?

often bacterial but can be viral

What organism causes trachoma?

Chlamydia trachomatis

How is trachoma transmitted?

eye secretions

____________ is a result of trachoma that may need surgical intervention

inward lashes

What organism causes keratitis?

Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV1) : infects cornea

Epidemiology of keratitis

can cause blindness

Ocular histoplasmosis affects the ...

retina : abnormal blood vessels

What is the organism that causes ocular histoplasmosis?

histoplasmosis capsulatum

Treatment for ocular histoplasmosis

goal is to stop further damage

NO antifungals: damage has already been done

What are 3 diseases of the ears?

1. Otitis externa (swimmer's ear)

2. Otitis media (ear infection)

3. Otitis interna (labyrinthitis)

Is otitis externa bacterial, viral, or fungal?

could be any

Signs/symptoms of otitis externa?

red, itchy ear canal with discharge

Organisms that can cause otitis externa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Otitis media is...

an infection in the middle ear and eustachian tubes

Signs/symptoms of otitis media

pain, discharge, and pressure in the ear

What organisms commonly cause otitis media?

streptococcus pneumoniae or haemophilus influenzae

Is otitis media bacterial, viral, or fungal?

commonly bacterial but can be viral

Otitis interna is....

swelling in the inner ear

Is otitis interna bacterial, viral, or fungal?

usually viral

Signs/symptoms of otitis interna

vertigo, dizziness

What are 3 diseases of wounds?

1. Burn wound infections

2. Surgical site infections

3. Gas gangrene

What organism causes burn wounds?

pseudomonas aeruginosa

Characteristics of pseudomonas aeruginosa that causes burn wounds

gram-negative rod

What organism causes surgical site infections (SSIs)?

usually the patient's normal flora

What organism causes gas gangrene?

clostridium perfringens

Characteristics of clostridium perfringens that causes gas gangrene

strict anaerobe that creates gas

Culture/diagnosis of gas gangrene

gas pockets in deep tissue restrict blood flow and kill tissue

What does gangrene mean?

tissue death due to lack of blood flow

Epidemiology of gas gangrene

can occur after childbirth or in diabetes