title: Clinical bacteriology of dacryocystitis in adults.
abstract: To better define the spectrum and relative incidence of pathogens causing dacryocystitis in adults, samples of purulent lacrimal sac contents were obtained from 236 patients undergoing dacryocystorhinostomy for a clinical diagnosis of dacryocystitis. Positive culture results were obtained in 52.5%. Cultures were pure, consisting of a single organism in 71%, and were mixed in 29%. Gram-positive organisms were most common, accounting for 64.5% of the isolates. Staphylococcus epidermidis, comprising 27.3% of the isolates and Staphylococcus aureus, comprising 22.1% of the isolates, were the most frequently encountered organisms. Gram-negative organisms were present in 27.3% of the isolates with Pseudomonas aeruginosa the most common, accounting for 8.7% overall. Anaerobic organisms were found in 7.0% of the isolates with Propionibacterium acnes the most frequent, recovered in 4.7% overall. Unexpected findings included the paucity of Streptococcus pneumoniae organisms recovered and the high incidence of involvement by gram-negative and anaerobic organisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Coden
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hornblass
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Haas
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003607:Dacryocystitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies