Question

Bacterial conjunctivitis has affected several children at a local day care center. A nurse should advise which measure to minimize the risk of infection. (True/False)

Answer 1

A nurse should definitely advise measures to minimize the risk of bacterial conjunctivitis, which include good hygiene practices and cautious use of personal items. While bacterial conjunctivitis is generally not vision-threatening and self-limiting, neonatal conjunctivitis is a serious condition in newborns and requires aggressive treatment to prevent blindness.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is true that a nurse should advise measures to minimize the risk of bacterial conjunctivitis infection. Bacterial conjunctivitis is highly contagious and often spread by contact with secretions from an infected individual. To prevent the spread of bacterial conjunctivitis, it is recommended that individuals practice good hygiene, such as frequent hand washing, avoiding sharing personal items like towels and washcloths, and disinfecting surfaces. Those affected should avoid touching their eyes and should wash their hands regularly to prevent spreading the infection to others. Contact lens wearers should stop using their lenses if they suspect an infection to avoid complications like keratitis. In contrast, neonatal conjunctivitis, like gonoccocal ophthalmia neonatorum, is a serious condition in newborns that can lead to permanent blindness if left untreated. This type of conjunctivitis is contracted from the mother during birth and is treated aggressively to stop the spread of the infection.