Microbiology
Common ocular pathogens, specimen collection, hand hygiene, and instrument disinfection.
Pathogens and Infection Control
Hand hygiene — before and after every patient contact; the single most effective infection-control measure in existence.
Standard precautions — treat all blood and certain body fluids as potentially infectious; gloves for contact with mucous membranes or broken skin; sharps in approved containers.
Instrument disinfection — anything touching the tear film (tonometer tips, gonio lenses, trial contact lenses) is disinfected between patients per CDC and manufacturer protocol; dry wiping is not disinfection.
Common ocular pathogens — adenovirus (epidemic keratoconjunctivitis — famously contagious in eye clinics), staph and strep species, pseudomonas (contact lens keratitis), Acanthamoeba (tap-water contact lens exposure). EKC outbreaks start with a contaminated instrument or an unwashed hand.
Specimen collection — conjunctival and corneal cultures before antibiotics when the physician orders them; label at the chair, transport per lab protocol.