Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is a common eye infection that presents at pediatrician offices and often keeps kids out of school or daycare. Although conjunctivitis is commonly caused by viral infections, there are other reasons why a patient might get pink eye. As a pediatric provider, it is essential to understand the signs and symptoms of pink eye and to weigh the risks and benefits of prescribing antibiotics. This episode discusses the treatment of conjunctivitis and the role pediatricians play in antibiotic stewardship.  

Guest: Nicole Poole, MD, is an assistant professor of pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Colorado and the Associate Medical Director of the Antibiotic Stewardship Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado.  

Episode resources: 

• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) website: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/child-care-health-regulations
• How Sick is Too Sick? (CDPHE): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RcdCmU4SYXwmVhJrA3Pyk0gP0MTDClkF/view 
• AAP Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools: https://shop.aap.org/managing-infectious-diseases-in-child-care-and-schools-6th-edition-paperback/
• Ophthalmic antibiotic use for acute infectious conjunctivitis in children: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34737083/
• Uncomplicated Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARTI) Clinical Pathways: https://www.childrenscolorado.org/health-professionals/clinical-resources/clinical-pathways/uncomplicated-acute-respiratory-tract-infections/  

 

For more information on Children’s Hospital Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org