An outbreak of acute mucopurulent conjunctivitis occurs in a primary school. The most common bacterial isolate from the affected children is:

• A Staphylococcus aureus
• B Streptococcus pyogenes
• C Haemophilus influenzae ✓
• D Neisseria meningitidis

Explanation

In preschool and school-age children, Haemophilus influenzae is the leading cause of acute bacterial conjunctivitis and frequently accompanies otitis media in these outbreaks. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause in adults, which makes it the tempting distractor here, but it does not dominate paediatric epidemics. Streptococcus pyogenes and N. meningitidis are uncommon isolates in routine endemic childhood conjunctivitis.

Reference: Parsons' Diseases of the Eye, 23rd ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.