BMJ  2004;329:625 (11 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7466.625-a

Letter

Predicting bacterial cause in infectious conjunctivitis

Chlamydia needs to be taken into account

EDITOR—In their paper on distinguishing bacterial conjunctivitis from other causes Rietveld et al omitted to mention chlamydial conjunctivitis as a possible cause for "sticky eyes" in adults.¹ It was disappointing that detection of and screening for Chlamydia was not included in their laboratory protocol. A small but steady number of referrals to our sexual health clinic come from ophthalmologists screening for Chlamydia in adult conjunctivitis.

Although symptoms of chlamydial disease may be mild, it should be considered in the spectrum of clinical presentations likely in this study. A better understanding of prevalence of this condition within the cohort tested might have strengthened the paper.

Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds LS1 3EX jan.clarke{at}leedsth.nhs.uk

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Competing interests: None declared.

References

1. Rietveld RP, ter Riet G, Bindels PJE, Sloos JH, van Weert HCPM. Predicting bacterial cause in infectious conjunctivitis: cohort study on informativeness of combinations of signs and symptoms. BMJ 2004;329: 206-10. (24 July.)[Abstract/Free Full Text]

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Relevant Article

Predicting bacterial cause in infectious conjunctivitis: cohort study on informativeness of combinations of signs and symptoms

Remco P Rietveld, Gerben ter Riet, Patrick J E Bindels, Jacobus H Sloos, and Henk C P M van Weert
BMJ 2004 329: 206-210. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]