Bachelor of Nursing: Infectious Conjunctivitis Case Study Report

This report presents a nursing case study focusing on an 88-year-old patient, John, diagnosed with infectious conjunctivitis. The study explores the background of the case, including the spread of the infection to another patient, Mary. It identifies the causative microorganism, Staphylococcus aureus, and discusses the mechanism of action and adverse reactions of the prescribed treatment, gentamicin eye drops. The report further analyzes the psychological basis of the signs and addresses infection control issues, such as poor hygiene and low immunity. It also details the transmission of the infection and procedures to break the chain of infection, emphasizing the importance of hygiene and antimicrobial stewardship. References are provided to support the information presented in the report.

RUNNING HEAD: Bachelor of Nursing
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Bachelor of Nursing
1 Background of the case study
John, an 88 years aged resident is facing itching and redness in his right eye after medical
investigation it was diagnosed the reason behind the eye problem was conjunctivitis
infectious. The issue John was facing was red and swollen eye and a sticky and infected
white discharge from the eyes. Threat increased when Mary also got the infections in her
eyes. This was a spreading infections and doctor recommended gentamicin eye drops and
some cautions to prevent the infections to spread to others (Grossman, 2013).
1.1 What is an infectious conjunctive?
Conjunctiva can be understand easily as the translucent slimy crust or shell lining on the
outer or frontier surface of the eyelids and the anterior surface of the eye ball. This infection
can be spread by the bacteria or microorganisms that causes the thick, mucous discharges
from the infected eyes or sometimes results in the red or pink eyeball anterior (Boustcha,
1995).
1.2 Which of four micro-organisms is more likely to cause infections in the eyes of John? Legionella Pneumophila
Legionella Pneumophila is not responsible to spread the infectious conjunctivitis in the
eyes of John. Legionella Pneumophila is liable to spread the Legionellosis infections and
Pontiac fever due to breathing in the water contains the bacteria in the droplets.
 Plasmodium P. ovale
No, Plasmodium P. ovale is not responsible to cause the eyes infection in the human beings but
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this spice of parasitic protozoa is responsible to spread the infection of tertian malaria widely in
the human being and they are mostly responsible to spread the bacteria of malaria (Bullock,
2017).
 Adenovirus
Yes they can cause the conjunctivitis but not The common spices spreading the common
but dangerous disease to the human being are Adenovirus viruses. These viruses are
responsible for causing range of illness like sore throat, bronchitis, and pink eye problems
known as the conjunctivitis (Lehner, 2012).
 Staphylococcus aureus
The highly responsible microorganism to spread the infectious conjunctivitis are
Staphylococcus aureus, they are the acute bacteria causing the red eye, itching and thick
whites discharge from the eyes. They are wide spreading bacteria due to poor hygiene
habits of the people even by hand to eye contact and even spread to the others by contact
(Norris & Lalchandani, 2018).
2 Mechanism of action and adverse reactions
2.1 Describe the mechanism of action of gentamicin?
Gentamicin is used to cure the various types of bacterial infections as the antibiotic droplets.
The dose of the gentamicin can be given though the injections to direct muscles and some
time as droplets to use topical outside of the eyes. It was approved in 1964 for medical use.
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Source: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/image/imgsrv.fcgi?cid=3467&t=l
Mechanism of gentamicin is based on the binding of the 30S subunits. These subunits are
prevailing in the bacterial ribosome. On the primary level the mechanism actions starts
through the ablating the ribosome to proper transfer RNA and the proper interactions of RNA
messenger. It directly affects the production of bacteria and prevents the infection spreading
by killing the infectious bacteria (Ringdal, 2019).
2.2 Write two adverse reactions of this drug?
Gentamicin an antibiotic dose cause less affecting issues to high affecting issues to the human
body. Major two reactions that affects adversely using the gentamicin drug are
 Nephrotoxicity that is damage to kidney
 Ototoxicity that is hearing and ear disorders
3 Psychological basis of signs
3.1 sign first
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Red and swollen eye
Explanation of this phenomenon
The main common reason behind the red and puff, swollen eyes can be due to long crying,
any shock or injury caused in the eyes. Less sleeping, over using the lights of gazette and the
reactions of chemicals can cause redness and itching result in the swollen eyes (Ringdal,
2019).
3.2 Sign 2
Eyes with purulent and sticky discharge.
Explanation of this phenomenon
Discharge from the eyes as the thick and white water containing the mucus component this
sometimes lead the sticky discharge. This discharge include the collection of the skin near by
the eyelashes, cells and mucus that got collected in the eyes corners this slowly lead the high
infections to the eyesight (Boland, 2011).
3.3 Sign 3
Painful eyes
Explanation of this phenomenon
Mainly the painful eyes are resulted due to the pressure and tension in the mind or in the
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emotions. Or the depression, poor psychological interaction to relief the pressure and tensions
of the mind leads the pain or facing the long term itching or injury in the eyes case thee pain.
Due to less hours of sleep, high consumption of alcohol or high rate of depression directly
affect the eyes and gives them pain (Burchum & Rosenthal, 2019).
4 Infection control issues
4.1 Issue 1
Low rate of the hygiene safety
Reason behind the issue
The main issue faced by the nurses in the aged resident hospital was to the poor hygiene rate
in their livings. Bacteria spread widely in the impure hygiene and the protection face
challenges to overcome the infectious issues because of unhealthy hygiene and habits of the
aged people (Peate, 2012).
4.2 Issue 2
Low immunity rate to protect the bacteria attacks
Reason behind the issue
As the age increased the level of immunity fighting to the dieses got down, sometimes
vaccines are needed to make the aged group more immune holder to fight the attacks of the
infectious bacteria but in case of the prevention of the infection high immunity rate is
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required (Porth, 2005).
5 Transmission of infection
5.1 Describe the transmission from John to Mary
Bacterial or viral conjunctivitis are very high transmissible even they are transmitted by the
single tough to eye by the hands. John was facing the infectious conjunctivitis as the high
transmissible nature it was normal to get the infected by touching the same object touched by
the infected person. Mary was his neighbour and it was understandable due to high spreading
power of the bacteria she also got infected (Burchum & Rosenthal, 2019).
6 Breaking the chain of infection
6.1 Identify procedure 1
Infectious agent
How efficient it is to break the chain of infection
The important process to break the chain of infection is to protect the nearby environment
from the infectious agents. These agents are;
Bacteria
Parasites
Viruses
Fungi
To control the risk of the transmission of the infection from one to other following steps can
be used to break down the chain of infection.
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 Examine the patient very seriously and diagnose him to treat in the proper manner.
 Antimicrobial stewardship program is the most useful coordinated program that helps
to break the chain of infection by using antibiotics to improve the patient’s health and
outcomes (Lehner, 2012).
6.2 Identify procedure 2
Reservoir
How efficient it is to break the chain of infection
The main places available to the microorganism are the reservoirs of impure water or any
place remain unclean for the long time. These reservoir are
Dirty equipment and their surface
Reserved water
Earth surface and
Animals body
Following steps are useful to break the chain of infections;
 Proper cleaning and sterilization of the surrounded place.
 Formulation of infection prevention policies.
 Pest control near the surroundings
 Issue the medical and health guidelines to aware the people about the infectious agent.
These supplied templates are focused on the discussion of the infectious conjunctivitis and
the reason behind the spreading of the infection from one person to other. Duration of the
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infectious conjunctives usually remain for the 2 or 3 days and the reaction of the drops is very
effective but also making adverse effect on the kidney and ear problems. Various issues are
discussed and the process of the lack of the hygiene may result the spreading of the virus and
bacteria. The role of hygiene is very important in the development of the immunity system of
the aged people and to prevent the others form the infections.
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References
Boland, M. (. (2011). Boland, M. (Director), Santall, J. (Presenter), & Video Education
AustralasiaInfection control in healthcare [Videorecording]. Retrieved September 2,
2019, from https://search.alexanderstreet.com:
https://search.alexanderstreet.com/view/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cvideo_work
%7C2320021
Boustcha, E. a. (1995). Conjunctivitis in a long-term care facility. Infection Control &
Hospital Epidemiology, 210-216.
Bullock, S. &. (Ed.). (2017). Fundamentals of pharmacology (8 ed.). Melbourne, Australia:
Pearson Australia.
Burchum, J., & Rosenthal, L. (Eds.). (2019). Lehne's Pharmacology for Nursing Care (10
ed.). https://evolve.elsevier.com.
Grossman, S. (2013). Porth's pathophysiology: Concepts of altered health states. Lippincott:
Williams & Wilkins.
Lehner, M. L. (Ed.). (2012). Pharmacology for nursing care. Saunders.
Norris, T., & Lalchandani, R. (2018). Porth's Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health
States. Lippincott: Williams & Wilkins.
Peate, I. a. (2012). Anatomía y fisiología para enfermeras. Manual Moderno.
Porth, C. a. (2005). Pathophysiology: Concepts of altered health states. Philadelphia:
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Ringdal, M. a. (2019). Respiratory assessment and monitoring. In Critical Care Nursing-E-
Book (p. 418).
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