4.2: Diseases of the Eyes, Ears, Wounds

conjunctiva

produces fluid that protects eye surfaces

Conjunctivitis

• infection of conjunctiva

• itchy, red, swollen eyes

• viral or bacterial

  • viral= clear discharge (no treatment)

  • bacteria= purulent discharge (antibiotics)

• very transmissible

ophthalmia neonatorum

• newborn conjunctiva

• Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis can be transferred from mom to baby during vaginal birth

• all newborns are treated with antibiotic eye drops/ointment

Trachoma

• chlamydia trachomatis

• causes chronic inflammation and scarring or eyelid/conjunctiva

• inward lashes can also scratch cornea and may need surgical intervention

• results in blindness

• treatment= antibiotics

Chlamydia Trachomatis

• obligate intracellular bacteria (must be inside cell to live)

• antibiotics must penetrate the cell

Keratitis

• Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV1)

• occurs during reactivation of latent virus

• virus infects cornea

• can cause blindness

• treated with antivirals

ocular histoplasmosis

bacteria- histoplasmosis capsulatum

• fungus in contaminated soil

• causes abnormal blood vessel growth which can lead to blindness

• treatment- stop abnormal vessel growth

otisits externa (swimmer’s ear)

• red, itchy ear canal with discharge

• can be bacterial, fungal, viral

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa

  • Asperguillus sp

Otitis media (ear infection)

infection in the middle ear and eustachian tubes that connect to throat

• pain, discharge, pressure in ear

• Commonly Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae

Otitis Interna

swelling of inner ear

• vertigo, dizziness, vomiting

• usually viral

Burn wounds

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• gram negative rod

surgical site infections (SSIs)

usually patients normal flora

fever, pus, redness at surgery site

Gas gangrene

• clostridium perfringens

• tissue damage/death due to lack of blood flow

• strict anaerobe, creates gas and pressure

• can occur after childbirth or in diabetes