title: Orbital infections: review of 28 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Orbital infections (OI) are a serious disorder that may results in visual and systemic morbidity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study epidemiologic data and outcome of OI in a tertiary eye care center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of 28 patients (28 eyes) with OI. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmic examination, otolaryngology examination, and cranio-orbital computed tomography scan. All patients received parenteral probabilistic antibiotic treatment then adapted depending on the sensitivity of antibiogram and clinical evolution, associated or not to corticosteroid treatment. The mean follow-up was 14 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of our patients was 35.9 years. Fifteen patients (54%) were male. Of 28 cases, retroseptal cellulitis was the most common, noted in 67.8% of cases. subperiosteal or orbital abscess was recorded in 28.6% of the cases. Sinusitis was the most common etiology, found in 39.3% of cases. Treatment was based on empirical broad spectrum systemic antibiotics in all cases. Surgical management was performed in 39.3% of cases. Bacteriological samples were obtained for 28.5% of patients, with Staphylococcus aureus the most frequently isolated pathogen (5 cases; 62.5%). The evolution was favorable with complete resolution without sequelae in 92.8% of the cases and improvement of visual acuity in 82% of cases. Causes of poor visual outcome were corneal perforation, cataract and retinal detachment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our series, OI affects children and young adults. Their prognosis is generally favorable provided rapid and appropriate management.
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kahloun
authors.forename: Nesrine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abroug
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ben Abdessalem
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ksiaa
authors.forename: Bechir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jelliti
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaouali
authors.forename: Salim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben Yahia
authors.forename: Moncef
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khairallah