The cohort study was based on 184 adult patients enrolled from September 1999 to December 2002. Only about a third had a positive culture.
Dr. Radetsky said he included this article in his top 10 list because “there is no pediatric study that helps a practitioner to decide whether something is bacterial conjunctivitis or not.”
A similar study of children is needed, he said. Until one is done, this system enables physicians to reduce the use of topical antibiotics, based on the historical information provided.
