Criteria for the diagnosis of conjunctivitis – one or more of the following:
(1) pathogens cultured from a purulent exudates from the conjunctiva
(2) pathogens cultured from a purulent exudates of a tissue continguous to the conjunctiva (eyelid, cornea, lacrimal gland, Meibomian gland)
(3) all of the following:
(3a) one or more of the following:
(3a1) pain in the conjunctiva and/or around the eye
(3a2) redness of the conjunctiva and/or around the eye
(3b) one or more of the following
(3b1) Gram stain of exudates shows micro-organisms and WBCs
(3b2) purulent exudates
(3b3) positive antigen test for a pathogen from exudates or conjunctival scraping
(3b4) positive viral culture
(3b5) serum IgM antibody positive for pathogen
(3b6) 4-fold increase in IgG antibody to a pathogen in paired serum sample
(3c) exclusion of chemical conjunctivitis or other explanation for the findings
where:
• Pathogens include Chlamydia trachomatis and Herpes simplex virus (HSV).
• Conjunctivitis that is part of a disseminated viral infection is not reported.
