BACTERIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF THE LACRIMAL SAC IN DACRYOCYSTITI

Abstract

In our routine ophthalmology practice it is very common to come across lacrimal sac infections. Lacrimal
sac infections most commonly presents with watering from the eye either associated with or without
discharge, which can be assessed by applying pressure over the lacrimal sac.1 It is important to analyse the microbial
spectrum in cases of lacrimal duct obstruction along with sac infection. It was noted that gram positive organisms are the most
common source of infection. Among the gram positive organisms it is the Staphylococcal species mainly the Staphylococcus
aureus which is responsible. Other gram positive organisms include Staphylococcus epidermis and Streptococcus pneumonia.
Among the gram negative organisms the most common ones are the Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Hemophillus inuenza, and
Klebsiella. Anaerobic organism like Propionibacterium and fungi like Candida are very rare. It is equally important to assess
the sensitivity of the organism to various drugs. A better understanding of the drug sensitivity is important in the management of
lacrimal sac infections. It was found out that gram positive organisms are sensitive to vancomycin,ooxacin, gatioxacin and
chloramphenicol while gram negative organisms showed sensitivity to mainly tobramycin.