How can bacterial conjunctivitis be spread other than through sexual contact?

Question

But how can anybody else catch it? Can be transmitted through air droplets, or by door handles, toilet bowls, pets, and then rubbed into your eyes? Or from supermarket fruit, carrier in an food outlet? (Are there are any special health rules?)

Bacterial conjunctivitis is an infection caused by bacteria such as staphylococci, streptococci or haemophilus. These organisms may come from the patient's own skin or upper respiratory tract or they may be caught from another person with conjunctivitis.

You as a medical detective. Doctors just treat the illness. Pillow spread. By young children? Midges? What is the incubation period?

Answer 1

Conjunctivitis is extremely contagious apparently according to doc . I was told to not share towels or any washing equipment and to always wash my hands after touching my eyes. Noone else in my family caught it when i did these things.

Answer 2

Conjuctivitis, whether bacterial, viral or allergic, is an inflammation/infection of the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane lining the inner surafces of the eyelids and the anterior part of the sclera, and isn't spread through sexual contact, in food, or by toilet bowels. You've been misinformed. It's usually caused by a bacterium and is transmitted through contact with the eye drainage from an infected person which is then transmitted by rubbing or touching the eyes. It can also be transmitted by using anything that has contacted infected eyes or the drainage and can also be contracted by touching the genitals of a person with an STD and then touching or rubbing the eyes. It is highly unlikely and improbable that someone would make direct contact with genitals using their eyes. The most common vector of transmission are the hands.

The incubation period ranges from 2 days to 2 weeks. The most effective means of prevention is to practice good hand hygiene and to avoid touching or rubbing the eyes.

Answer 3

Conjunctivitis is an infection of the eye, so I doubt you'll contract it through sexual contact - unless you're into something REALLY wierd! It's spread by unwashed hands, pure and simple. And of course, the preventative is simple too - a combination of soap, water and friction. But you knew that, didn't ya?

Answer 4

this will answer your question -

What Causes Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)?

Conjunctivitis may be triggered by a virus, bacteria, an allergic reaction (to dust, pollen, smoke, fumes or chemicals) or, in the case of giant papillary conjunctivitis, a foreign body on the eye, typically a contact lens. Bacterial and viral systemic infections also may induce conjunctivitis.
Conjunctivitis or pink eye.

Conjunctival inflammation gives the eye a reddish tinge commonly known as pink eye.

Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) Treatment

Avoidance. Your first line of defense is to avoid the cause of conjunctivitis. Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis spread easily to others. Here are some tips to avoid spreading the conditions or re-infecting yourself:

* Wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching or rubbing your eyes.

* Don't share washcloths, towels or pillowcases with anyone else, and wash these items after each use.

* Don't share eyedrops or cosmetics such as eyeliner, eye shadow or mascara. Replace them after you're healed, to avoid re-infection.

* It is unlikely that you'd spread pink eye just by kissing someone! But keep in mind that having your eyes close to someone else's increases the chance of your eye fluids coming into contact with their eyes and infecting them with the bacteria or virus that caused your own pink eye.

* Your eyecare practitioner may recommend that you discontinue contact lens wear during this time or replace your contact lenses after you're healed.




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Warm compresses may help soothe your eyes if you have viral or bacterial conjunctivitis.

To avoid allergic conjunctivitis, keep windows and doors closed on days when the pollen is heavy. Dust and vacuum frequently to alleviate potential allergens in the home. Stay in well-ventilated areas if you're exposed to smoke, chemicals or fumes. Cold compresses can be very soothing.

If you've developed giant papillary conjunctivitis, odds are you're a contact lens wearer. You'll need to stop wearing your contact lenses, at least for a little while. Your eye doctor may also recommend that you switch to a different type of contact lens, to prevent the conjunctivitis from recurring. For example, you might need to go from soft contacts to gas permeable ones, or vice versa, or you might need to switch to a type of lens that you replace more frequently, such as from conventional contact lenses to daily disposable ones. GPC can also result from prosthetics, stitches and more. Your eye doctor will decide if removal is appropriate.

Medication. Doctors don't normally prescribe medication for viral conjunctivitis because it usually clears up on its own within a few days. Antibiotic eyedrops will alleviate bacterial conjunctivitis, whereas antihistamine allergy pills or eyedrops will help control allergic conjunctivitis symptoms. For giant papillary conjunctivitis, your doctor may prescribe eyedrops to reduce inflammation and itching.

Usually, conjunctivitis is a minor eye infection, but sometimes it can develop into a more serious condition. See your eye doctor for a diagnosis before using any eyedrops in your medicine cabinet from previous infections or eye problems.

Answer 5

Mostly not washing your hands regularly. If you touch an area or get near a person that has it and don't wash you hands, and then touch your eyes, you will probably contact it.

Answer 6

contact in any form. door handles if they touch it with contaminated hands... the list goes on... anything the sick person touches if they havent taken precautions.

that why I never touch toilet door handles... all that smegma and disease... the trick is to time it so that others open it for you, or use a paper towel from the dispenser to open it. nasty place, those public toilets.

Answer 7

Germs in eyes can spread by fingers and objects contaminated with t he germs.