Final answer:
When performing an eye instillation for a patient with conjunctivitis, medical assistants should uphold strict hygiene practices, avoid contaminating the medication applicator, and ensure correct application technique. The contagious nature of conjunctivitis, particularly viral conjunctivitis, necessitates careful handling to prevent spreading the infection.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a medical assistant is caring for a patient with conjunctivitis, it is important to take precautions to prevent the spread of infection and ensure proper administration of eye instillation. Given that conjunctivitis can be highly contagious, especially if it is viral conjunctivitis, which is associated with watery discharge and can spread easily, the following actions should be taken:
Wash hands thoroughly before and after the procedure to prevent contamination or spread of the infection.
Use gloves to avoid direct contact with any eye discharge, which may be infectious.
Avoid touching the tip of the eye dropper or ointment tube to the eye or any other surface to prevent contamination.
Gently pull down the lower eyelid to create a pocket and administer the medication into this pocket without touching the eye.
Ask the patient to close their eye gently to disperse the medication, and to not rub the eye, which may cause further irritation or spread the infection.
Dispose of or clean any materials used for the instillation in accordance with infection control protocols.
It is also crucial to follow the specific medication instructions provided by healthcare professionals. If antibiotic treatment is prescribed for suspected bacterial conjunctivitis, it should be used as directed; however, in the case of viral infection, antibiotics will be ineffective, and the condition usually resolves on its own within a couple of weeks.