Pneumococcal conjunctivitis at an elementary school--Maine, September 20-December 6, 2002
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Published on: February 23, 2014
Abstract:
On October 18, 2002, the nurse at an elementary school in Westbrook, Maine, notified the Maine Bureau of Health (MBOH) of an increase in the number of students with conjunctivitis. During September 23-October 18, a total of 31 students in kindergarten and in first and second grades either were reported by parents to the nurse as having conjunctivitis or had conjunctivitis diagnosed by the nurse at school. Conjunctival swab cultures from five (38%) of the 13 students who were tested initially grew Streptococcus pneumoniae. This report documents additional cases in the community and summarizes preliminary results of the investigation of this outbreak, which indicated that the outbreak was caused by the same nontypeable strain of pneumococcus that caused an outbreak of conjunctivitis among college students in New Hampshire during January-March 2002. This is the first time that this strain has been reported as the cause of a conjunctivitis outbreak among schoolchildren. Health-care providers and public health officials should be aware that nontypeable S. pneumoniae can cause outbreaks of conjunctivitis in school-age children and college students; outbreaks should be reported to state health departments and CDC.
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Acute Pharyngitis
Acute pharyngitis is the inflammation of the back of the throat (pharynx), commonly resulting in a sore throat. It is a frequently encountered condition that prompts individuals to seek medical advice.
Classification
Acute pharyngitis can be categorized based on its underlying cause:
Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed.
