title: Microbiology of primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction: simple epiphora, acute dacryocystitis, and chronic dacryocystitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the microbiology of primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) and its antimicrobial susceptibilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-three patients (100 eyes) diagnosed with PANDO, categorized as acute, chronic dacryocystitis, or simple epiphora, were prospectively enrolled. Lacrimal sac contents were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and fungi. Cultured organisms were identified, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for aerobic bacteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-nine of the 100 samples were culture positive. One hundred twenty-seven organisms were isolated, and 29 different species were identified. Most microorganisms were Gram-positive bacteria (45 samples or 57.0% of all positive culture samples), whereas Gram-negative bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, and fungi were found in 39 (49.4%), 24 (30.4%), and four samples (5.1%), respectively. The most frequently isolated group was coagulase-negative staphylococci (27.8%), followed by nonspore-forming Gram-positive rods (anaerobe) (17.7%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.2%). Of the 100 samples, five, 45, and 50 samples were obtained from patients with acute dacryocystitis, chronic dacryocystitis, and simple epiphora, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that Gram-negative organisms were isolated more frequently from the chronic dacryocystitis subgroup than from the simple epiphora subgroup (P=0.012). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing demonstrated that ciprofloxacin was the most effective drug against all Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with PANDO, with or without clinical signs of lacrimal infection, were culture positive. Gram-negative organisms were frequently isolated, which were different from previous studies. Ciprofloxacin was the most effective agent against all Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kanograt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pornpanich
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Panitee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luemsamran
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Amornrut
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leelaporn
authors.affiliation: Eye Surgery Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jiraporn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santisuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nattaporn
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tesavibul
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Buntitar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lertsuwanroj
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sumalee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vangveeravong
keywords: acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction; acute dacryocystitis; chronic dacryocystitis; microbiology; simple epiphora