Nosocomial Pseudomonas aeruginosa Conjunctivitis in a Pediatric Hospital

Abstract

Conjunctivitis accounted for 5% of nosocomial infections occurring in a university-affiliated pediatric hospital between January 1984 and April 1986. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recovered from the conjunctiva of 30 patients. The primary diseases of these patients were chronic and debilitating. Eighty percent of patients were under 18 months of age although only 30% of admissions are represented in this age group. Seventy percent of cases occurred in pediatric intensive care unit/neonatal intensive care unit patients. Seventy percent of patients who had antecedent nasopharyngeal/endotracheal cultures obtained were colonized with P aeruginosa. All patients except one had one or more of the following interventions prior to the onset of conjunctivitis: tracheostomy, endotracheal tube, oxygen by hood, or suctioning. Two children (7.4%) have residual corneal scars. Improvements in eye care including protection of the eye during suctioning, other respiratory care, and nasogastric tube procedures are warranted.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa blepharoconjunctivitis during cytoreductive chemotherapy in a woman with acute lymphocytic leukemia

“…However, they have been reported in subjects wearing contact lenses [4,9], in a small number of children in intensive care units [8], and in a patient following cataract extraction [6]. A newborn who developed necrotizing Pseudomonas infection after Credé's prophylaxis was reported by Huber-Sitzy et al in 1985 [7].…”

Acute bacterial conjunctivitis

“…1984) and to methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (Brennen & Muder 1990). According to King et al. (1988), conjunctivitis accounted for 5% of nosocomial infections in a large university‐affiliated paediatric hospital between January 1984 and April 1986.…”

Conjunctival Colonization of Infants Hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Longitudinal Analysis

“…In addition, the conjunctivae may be exposed to nasopharyngeal secretions during mechanical ventilation, oxygen delivery by nasal cannula or oxyhood, or suctioning with respiratory care. 11 These direct or aerosolized exposures to nasopharyngeal secretions may result in conjunctival contamination and subsequent infection. Notwithstanding, overall immunologic immaturity of infants contributes significantly to an increased susceptibility to infection.…”