Amara woke up with eyes stuck shut with discharge on day two. By day four, three of her office colleagues had the same symptoms. Mascot Healthcare diagnosed bacterial conjunctivitis, treated the infection, and gave her the information to stop it spreading further.
Office administrator. Presented with bilateral red eyes, copious mucopurulent discharge, and morning eyelid crusting — for 4 days. Three colleagues had the same symptoms. Self-treated with rose water and eye drops from a pharmacy.
Acute Bacterial ConjunctivitisAmara first noticed the redness and discharge on a Monday morning. She assumed it would clear. By Tuesday, the discharge was heavy enough to blur her vision. She bought chloramphenicol eye drops from a pharmacy without a prescription — but the pharmacist had given her the same instructions she'd seen online: apply and wait.
By Thursday, a colleague at the adjacent desk had the same symptoms. By Friday, two more. The office manager was concerned about a "pink eye epidemic." Amara came to Mascot Healthcare.
The doctor confirmed bacterial conjunctivitis. She tested for adenovirus (the most common viral cause) using a rapid test — negative. The mucopurulent discharge, morning crusting, and bilateral involvement with multiple close contacts confirmed the bacterial aetiology.
Bacterial conjunctivitis is highly contagious — spreading through direct contact, shared towels, and touching the eye with contaminated hands. Prompt treatment and hygiene measures stop workplace clusters.
Both eyes red from day 2 — conjunctival injection visible without examination.
Yellow-green discharge from both eyes — collecting in the inner corners and on the eyelids throughout the day.
Eyes stuck together with dried discharge every morning — requiring warm water to open.
Persistent gritty sensation — as if sand in both eyes.
Three office colleagues developed identical symptoms within days — confirming contagious spread.
Rose water eye rinse — soothing; no antibacterial effect.
Chloramphenicol 0.5% eye drops — appropriate antibiotic; inadequately applied (2-hourly dosing required for full effect).
Touching eyes with hands and using shared hand towel — key transmission vector worsening the outbreak.
Prescribed eye drops were given, used frequently in the first couple of days and then less often as the eye settled, with an eye ointment at night. The schedule was written clearly on a card for Amara to follow.
Hygiene instructions written and provided to Amara for her office: no touching of eyes; hand washing every 30 minutes; no shared towels or eye makeup; own pillowcase washed daily; affected staff to stay home until 24 hours after starting treatment.
All three affected colleagues were assessed and treated at the same clinic session.
Acute Bacterial Conjunctivitis (bilateral; mucopurulent; rapid adenovirus test negative; workplace cluster)
Prescribed eye drops on a tapering schedule; eye ointment at night; hygiene education; workplace infection control instructions
All affected individuals clear within 5 days of starting treatment. No further cases in the office after implementing hygiene measures.
Amara and all three colleagues cleared within 5 days. The office cluster stopped after implementing the hand hygiene and towel-sharing protocol.
Bacterial conjunctivitis requires 2-hourly antibiotic drops in the first 48 hours — not 4 times daily. Under-dosing prolongs the contagious period unnecessarily.
No shared towels, no touching the eyes, hand washing every 30 minutes — these hygiene measures stop a workplace or household cluster in its tracks.
Sticky red eyes in a group of people means bacterial conjunctivitis — treat everyone immediately and stop sharing towels.
Book an appointment at Mascot Healthcare, Akoka — same-day slots often available, 4.9★ rated.