Question:

Background of the case study,Mechanism of action and adverse reactions,Mediators of signs and symptoms,Infection control issues,Transmission of infection,Breaking the chain of infection.

Answer:

This template must be used to answer the case study.

(Please type your answers within the box underneath each question)

Background of the case study (Total: 5 marks)

1.1 What is infectious conjunctivitis?

Conjunctiva is the thin, smooth and transparent mucous membrane lining eyelid and covering the white of the eye (bulbar part of the sclera). Inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by viruses/ bacteria is known as Infectious conjunctivitis. The symptoms include redness, tearing, irritation, burning, foreign body sensation or discharge from eyes with various degrees of severity. The microbes that infect the conjunctiva are virus particularly adenoviruses and bacterial infections are less common. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis both are quite contagious and pass from one person to the other person or from one person's infected eye to other person’s eye (Boustcha & Nicolle, 1995; Marieb & Hoehn, 2015).

1.2 Of the four micro-organisms listed below, justify which one is more likely to be the cause of Brian’s eye infection. Indicate why

Legionella pneumophila

Yes or no, with reason:

No,

Legionella pneumophila is a gram-negative, human pathogenic bacterium and the causative organism of legionellosis or Legionnaires' disease which manifests as respiratory symptoms unlike the case discussed here (Lee & Bishop, 2014).

Plasmodium ovale

Yes or no, with reason:

No,

Plasmodium ovale is protozoan parasite which is known to be the cause of tertian malaria in humans which manifests as symptoms like fever etc. which is not the case in the discussed case study (Lee & Bishop, 2014).

Adenovirus

Yes or no, with reason:

Yes,

Viral conjunctivitis,

is a common, eye infection typically caused by adenovirus. Adenovirus causes adenovirus conjunctivitis and manifest symptoms like redness of eye, itching, irritation etc. which is known to be contagious (Lee & Bishop, 2014).

Escherichia coli

Yes or no, with reason:

No,

Escherichia coli infection causes symptoms severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea which is known to typically turns bloody within around 24 hours, also accompanied by fever sometimes which is not seen in the discussed case study (Lee & Bishop, 2014).