Infectious Conjunctivitis: Causes, Mechanism of Action of Gentamicin, Signs, Infection Control Issues, and Transmission

This template must be used to answer the case study.
(Please type your answers within the box underneath each question)
Student name (LAST NAME first name):
Student number:
Campus:
Tutorial session (time and room no.):
Tutor’s name:
1. Background of the case study (Total: 5 marks)
1.1 What is infectious conjunctivitis?
Infectious conjunctivitis is the inflammation in the conjunctiva commonly
caused by the micro-organisms. Conjunctiva is the thin and clear tissues
that present over the white area of t the human eye, and line the inner side
of the eyelid. There are total six type of conjunctivitis: bacterial
conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis, gonococcal and chlamydial conjunctivitis,
allergic conjunctivitis, giant papillary conjunctivitis, and non-infectious
conjunctivitis (Garout, Jokhdar, & Abelwadood, 2016).
1.2 Of the four micro-organisms listed below, justify which one is more likely
to be the cause of John’s eye infection. Indicate why the other micro-
organisms from the list are least likely to cause the infection.
Legionella pneumophila
Yes or no, with reason:
No: the infection caused by this microorganism does not occur person to

person
Plasmodium ovale
Yes or no, with reason:
No: it is the species of parasitic protozoa and it causes non-falciparum
malaria, infection in case of John is viral or bacterial as there is purulent
discharge has been reported (Alfonso, Fawley & Lu, 2015).
Adenovirus
Yes or no, with reason:
No: Adenovirus can cause viral conjunctivitis, patient experience
inflammation, pain, and red eye, and blurred vision problems, but John has
no blurry vision.
Staphylococcus aureus
Yes or no, with reason:
Yes: Staphylococcus aureus is more likely to cause conjunctivitis in case of
John he is suffering from acute conjunctivitis and may become chronic can
infect both the eyes of the patient (Alfonso, Fawley & Lu, 2015).
2. Mechanism of action and adverse reactions (Total: 5 marks)
2.1 Describe the mechanism of action of gentamicin?
It is the aminoglycoside type of antibiotic which is prescribed to address the
bacterial eye infections. It can also be used to treat other type of bacterial

infections. Aminoglycosides of gentamicin "irretrievably" attach to
particular 30S-subunit of proteins and the 16S rRNA. Particularly
gentamicin attaches to four different nucleotides of the 16S rRNA and one
amino acid of the protein S12. This impedes with the decoding spot in the
locality of nucleotide 1400 in the 16S rRNA of a 30S subunit (Gografe,
Hansen & Hansen, 2015). This area interrelates with a wobble base in the
tRNA anticodon. This result in intrusion with the start complex, misreading
of the mRNA consequently improper amino acids are introduced into the
polypeptide causes nonfunctional or contaminated peptides and the
disintegration of polysomes into the nonfunctional monosomes. the
secondary mechanism of this drug has been projected based on the crystal
arrangements of the gentamicin drug in a secondary binding site at the
helix 69 of a 23S rRNA, which interrelates with the helix 44 and proteins
that identify stop codons (Bullock & Manias, 2017).
2.2 Name two adverse reactions of this drug?
Difficulty hearing or ringing in the ears, and dizziness.
3. Physiological basis of signs (Total: 10 marks)
3.1 sign 1:
Swollen
Explanation of this phenomenon:
It is because of the discharge of exudate from unusually permeable
capillaries. The outside surface covering seems to have liquid in it. The
conjunctiva turns out to be swollen and gelatinous in appearance.
3.2 sign 2: