A Bacteriological Study Of Dacryocystitis

Introduction: Dacryocystitis is an inflammation of the lacrimal sac and duct. It is an important cause of ocular morbidity, both in children and in adults.Aims: The aim of this study was to isolate, identify and to determine the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the bacterial isolates which were found in cases of dacryocystitis.Setting and design: Prospective study.Methods: 83 cases of dacryocystitis were studied over a period of one year. The samples from the lacrimal sac and the conjunctiva were collected by applying pressure or lacrimal syringing. The isolates were identified by conventional methods and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern was established.Statistical Analysis: The results were analyzed by using mean, median and the Chi-square (chi(2)) test.Results: Chronic dacryocystitis (51) was the most common type of dacryocystitis as compared to acute (20) and congenital dacryocystitis (9). Females were affected more than the males. Staphylococcus aureus (26), Streptococcus pneumoniae (22) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14) were the most common isolates which were found. The gram positive isolates were most sensitive to vancomycin (100%), tobramycin and linezolid (99.36%). The gram negative organisms were most sensitive to tobramycin and gentamicin (100%), followed by cefepime (98.79%) and choramphenicol (97.14%).Conclusion: Chronic dacryocystitis was the most common type of dacryocystitis than acute dacryocystitis. Gram positive organisms were most commonly isolated than gram negative organisms.