Abstract

Background: Middle-aged people are more likely to develop chronic dacryocystitis, an inflammation of the lacrimal sac that is frequently accompanied by partial or complete obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct. Numerous bacteria are thought to be the root cause of persistent dacryocystitis. The current study aimed to isolate the current spectrum of bacterial pathogens causing dacryocystitis along with antibiotic sensitivity patterns.
Methods: Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria n=75 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study by random sampling method. A detailed ocular examination in each case was done. The sample was collected from patients who fulfil our inclusion criteria. Collection of samples was done by Applying pressure over the lacrimal sac and allowing the fluid/purulent material to reflux through the lacrimal punctum or by irrigating the lacrimal drainage system with sterile saline and collecting the sample from the refluxing material. The sample was collected with a sterile cotton swab from the everted puncta, avoiding contamination from the conjunctiva and eyelid.
Results: S. epidermidis was susceptible to moxifloxacin in 89.28% of samples however it was found to be resistant to many antibiotics and none of the antibiotics was 100% effective against S. epidermidis in these cases. S. aureus was found to be 93.33% susceptible to chloramphenicol and 73% sensitive to ciprofloxacin its susceptibility ranged from 6 % to 66% in various antibiotics. S. pneumoniae was 83% susceptible to tobramycin and in other antibiotic sensitivity ranged from 16 % to 66% given in table 4. Pseudomonas was 100 sensitive to moxifloxacin and ceftazidime and 80% sensitive to tobramycin and Micrococci were sensitive 100% to ceftazidime and tobramycin.
Conclusion: The most common microorganism isolated was Staphylococcus epidermidis followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species. Gram-positive organisms showed the highest sensitivity to Moxifloxacin, Chloramphenicol, and Gram-negative organisms to Gentamycin. The high rate of microorganism-positive cultures suggests that adult patients should be treated for their lacrimal sac infection before any intraocular surgery because of the potential risk of post-operative infection.