Inpatient preseptal cellulitis: experience from a tertiary eye care centre

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Preseptal cellulitis (PSC) is an infection anterior to the orbital septum.
• Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the primary causes of preseptal cellulitis in patients admitted to a tertiary eye-care center.
• To evaluate the treatment outcomes for preseptal cellulitis.

Main Methods:

• A 15-year retrospective review of 104 inpatients diagnosed with preseptal cellulitis.
• Inclusion criteria included clinical signs, symptoms, or radiological evidence of infection anterior to the orbital septum.

Main Results:

• The most common causes were acute dacryocystitis (32.6%), sinusitis/upper-respiratory infection (28.8%), and trauma/recent surgery (27.8%).
• Fifty percent of patients required surgical intervention, including dacryocystorhinostomy or abscess drainage.
• Microbiological investigations revealed Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species as the most frequent pathogens; 90% of cultures were positive.

Conclusions:

• Sinusitis/URI, acute dacryocystitis, and trauma/surgery are leading causes of PSC in hospitalized patients.
• Systemic antibiotics are effective for most cases, but surgical intervention is sometimes necessary.
• Early management is key to preventing complications such as lid abscesses or necrosis.