EENT Infections - Hunter Flashcards
What is otitis externa?
An infection of the external auditory canal.
What is a common nickname for otitis externa and why?
It is called swimmer’s ear because it is most common in swimmers and divers who frequently get water trapped in the external canal.
What are the predisposing factors for otitis externa?
- high environmental temperatures
- trauma from mechanical removal of cerumen
- follows insertion of foreign objects in canal
- associated with chronic dermatologic disease such as eczema
What organisms are the most common causes of otitis externa?
Gram-negative bacilli.
What specific organism is the major pathogen associated with otitis externa?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common cause of what?
- otitis externa/swimmer’s ear
2. malignant otitis externa
What is another organism that causes otitis externa?
Staphylococcus aureus. Although it is a less common cause than Pseudomonas.
Describe a typical presentation of otitis externa.
May present with ear pain, itching and discharge with a swollen and erythematous external canal. Fever is usually lower than 38.3 degrees C and the pinna may be tender. It may also be painful to chew for many patients.
What is standard treatment for otitis externa of bacterial origin?
- dicloxacillin or ciprofloxacin
2. less severe cases use ofloxacin ear drops
What findings are more associated with malignant otitis externa than with otitis externa?
- a temperature greater than greater than 38.3 degrees C
- severe pain associated with ear canal and surrounding areas
- presence of a purulent exudate
How does malignant otitis externa usually start?
Often begins as infection of external auditory meatus - often with otorrhea. Especially in immunocompromised adults with diabetes.
Why is malignant otitis externa so dangerous?
Necrotizing infection can spread to the cartilage, bone (mastoid process), blood vessels and brain. Can be fatal if untreated.
What is the treatment for malignant otitis externa?
- Imepenem
2. referral to otolaryngologist for surgical debridement
What is otitis media?
Bacterial infection of the inner ear mucosa with exudate production.
Otitis media is especially associated with what population?
Children. 50% experience an episode before age 1 and 80% by age 3.
What is the most frequent diagnosis in febrile children?
Acute Otitis media.
Does otitis media affect boys more often than girls?
yes.
Otitis media often presents with what other two conditions?
- purulent conjunctivitis
2. rhinosinusitis
What population is especially at risk for recurrent otitis media?
Persons with immune deficiencies.
What microorganism is the most common cause of acute otitis media?
Streptococcus pneumoniae
What are some other types of microorganisms that are common causes of acute otitis media?
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae
- Moraxella catarrhalis
What are some other less common causes of acute otitis media?
- Staphyloccus aureus
2. Streptococcus pyogenes
What is the most common cause of acute otitis media in babies younger than 6 weeks of age?
Gram-negative bacilli such as E. coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Acute otitis media is often preceded by what
Upper respiratory tract viral infection.
What causes a bulging tympanic membrane in acute otitis media?
A blocked eustachian tube prevents mucosal absorption of air, causing negative pressure in the middle ear and production of a serous effusion.
What clinical findings are definitive for a diagnosis of acute otitis media?
Pain, fever, middle ear effusion.
Can cases of otitis media resolve without antibiotic treatment?
Yes. Acetaminophen can be given for the pain but if the patient remains symptomatic by day 3 then antibiotic therapy should be started.
What antibiotic treatment is given for acute otitis media?
Amoxicillin.
What is Hordeola?
Also called styes. They are infections that present as purulent papules that occur at the lid margin.
What organism causes 90-95% of all cases of Hordeola?
Staph aureus.
Hordeola can occur as a complication of what?
Blepharitis - inflammation of the eyelid due to blockage and infection of the Zeiss or Moll sebaceous glands (sweat glands) or the meibomian glands (make tears) in the tarsal plate.
What is one major difference between a hordeola and a chalazia?
Chalazia are granulomatous lesions that are not painful.
What are some ways of treating a hordeola?
- many drain spontaneously - especially if warm compresses are applied
- external hordeolas can be lanced to drain or nearby eyelashes can be epilated
- internal hordeolas can be treated with warm compresses plus oral dicloxacilllin
What contributes to prevention of hordeolas?
good hygiene of the eyelid margin
What microorganism is a common cause of hordeolas?
Staph aureus.
What is orbital cellulitis?
Acute infection of the tissues immediately surrounding the eye.
When should orbital cellulitis be suspected?
When the patient has had recent sinusitis, facial trauma, surgery or dental work.
Most cases of orbital cellulitis result from..?
Ethmoid sinusitis.
What pathogen is primarily involved in orbital cellulitis?
Staph aureus, but H. influenzae and anaerobes may also be involved.
What meds are used to treat orbital cellulitis?
Nafcillin, ceftriaxone and metronidazole.
10% of orbital cellulitis cases result in….?
Some vision loss.
What are the two types of orbital cellulitis and which one is more serious?
- preseptal cellulitis - infection of tissues surrounding eye anteriorly
- post-septal cellulitis - infection of the tissues surrounding the eye posteriorly - this is the more serious type
What are some serious complications of orbital cellulitis?
Brain abscesses, meningitis, cavernous venous thrombosis.
What are some clinical findings of orbital cellulitis?
Proptosis (bulging eyelid), Opthalmoplegia (paralysis or weakness of eye muscles), edema and erythema of the eyelids, pain on eye movement, fever, headache, malaise, dark red discoloration of the eyelids, chemosis (edema of the conjunctiva) and hyperemia of the conjunctiva.
What is conjunctivitis?
Inflammation of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva. Also called pink eye (due to inflammatory blood vessel dilation) and occurs at any age.
30% of all eye complaints to family physicians are….?
Conjunctivitis.
What is keratitis?
Inflammation of the cornea.
What is keratoconjuntivitis?
Inflammation of the cornea and the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva. Most organisms causing conjunctivitis also cause keratitis.
What is the most common cause of viral conjunctivitis?
Adenoviruses.
What is a less common but more serious cause of conjunctivitis?
HSV-1 and HSV-2
What organisms can cause purulent conjunctivitis?
- Staph aureus
- Strep pneumoniae
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Moraxella catarrhalis
What organism causes hyper purulent conjunctivitis?
Neisseria gonorrhoeae - can cause significant corneal damage.
What organism causes follicular (inclusion) conjunctivitis?
Chlamydia trachomatis - usually in sexually active teenagers and young adults in US. Globally it is the leading cause of trachoma, which is the leading cause of unctuous blindness in the world.
What is ophthalmia neonatorum?
Conjunctivitis in newborns (often spreads rapidly to the cornea too causing corneal perforation) within the first month of life. This is caused by maternal infection with Neisseria or Chlamydia which the baby picks up via passage through the birth canal. There is a 30-50% transmission rate during vaginal delivery.
Describe the pathogenesis of conjunctivitis.
Infectious agents adhere to the conjunctiva and overwhelm normal defense mechanisms (e.g., tearing, lysozyme): clinical symptoms of redness, discharge, and irritation.
Conjunctiva is a serious concern in what population?
Conjunctivitis usually is a self-limited process; however, in immunocompromised patients and in patients with certain infectious agents, conjunctivitis can cause serious infections of the cornea that threaten loss of sight.
Chlamydial conjunctivitis can lead to what?
Conjunctival scarring and vision loss.
Viruses and Chlamydia can cause what?
Can cause lymphatic tissue in the conjunctiva to hypertrophy, resulting in follicle formation.
Why does the eye look red in viral conjunctivitis?
Blood vessels dilate.
What sensations may the patient with conjunctivitis feel in the eye?
Fullness, burning or a feeling of grit or a foreign body in the eye. Also there may be excessive tearing and a purulent discharge if the cause is bacterial.
Does conjunctivitis usually cause vision impairment?
No - the cornea and pupil appear normal.
What is the treatment for viral conjunctivitis?
Supportive care such as artificial tears and cold compresses.
How is Herpes conjunctivitis treated?
Acyclovir
Both Neisseria and Chlamydia can cause Ophthalmia neonatorum. Which one presents faster if transmitted?
Neisserial causes present within 2-3 days of delivery while Chlamydia causes present within 4-10 days. Chlamydia is a more common cause.