Stephen J. Schueler, M.D.

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Eye Infection with Bacteria Transmission

Facts about bacterial conjunctivitis:

  • Bacterial conjunctivitis is very contagious.
  • Those who have bacterial conjunctivitis are contagious while the eye drainage is present.
  • Bacterial conjunctivitis is not considered contagious after the drainage improves and it has been treated for 24 hours with antibiotics.
  • The infection may be spread through contact with infected tears or eye drainage.
  • Once someone is exposed to the infected fluid, it takes 2 to 7 days for symptoms to develop.

Continue to Eye Infection with Bacteria Anatomy

Last Updated: Feb 27, 2008 References
Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD
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PubMed Eye Infection with Bacteria References
  1. Mabey D, Fraser-Hurt N, Powell C. Antibiotics for trachoma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005 Apr 18;(2):CD001860. [15846624]
  2. Schiebel NE. Evidence-based emergency medicine/systematic review abstract. Use of antibiotics in patients with acute bacterial conjunctivitis. Ann Emerg Med. 2003 Mar;41(3):407-9. [12605210]
  3. Smith J. Bacterial conjunctivitis. Clin Evid. 2004 Dec;(12):926-32. [15865690]
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