Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 27, 2025
Transcanalicular Diode Laser-assisted Dacryocystorhinostomy for the Treatment of Primary Acquired Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction
Published on: October 13, 2017
A Case-Control Study to Determine the Microbiological Spectrum and Antibiotic Sensitivity Patterns in Congenital
Muthumeena Muthumalai1, Md Shahid Alam2, Neha Shrirao2
1Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Sankara Nethralaya, Medical Research Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Insights
Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) in children predominantly involves Gram-positive bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus epidermidis. Microbiological findings did not impact the success rates of probing procedures.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Microbiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) is a common condition in infants.
- Understanding the microbiological landscape and antibiotic sensitivities is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the spectrum of microorganisms and antibiotic sensitivity patterns in pediatric patients with CNLDO.
- To correlate microbiological findings with the outcomes of surgical probing.
Main Methods:
- A prospective comparative study included 123 children (0-16 years) with CNLDO undergoing surgical procedures.
- Conjunctival swabs were collected for microbiological analysis and antibiotic susceptibility testing using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method.
- A control group of 62 children with patent nasolacrimal ducts was included for comparison.
Main Results:
- Culture-positive results were obtained in 82.8% of CNLDO cases, with 165 bacteria isolated.
- Gram-positive bacteria predominated (84.24%), with Staphylococcus epidermidis being the most common isolate (30.9%).
- Gram-positive isolates showed high sensitivity to gentamicin and vancomycin (95.5%), while Gram-negative isolates were sensitive to amikacin (92.3%). Gatifloxacin demonstrated 80% susceptibility for both groups.
Conclusions:
- Gram-positive bacteria, especially Staphylococcus epidermidis, are the predominant isolates in pediatric CNLDO.
- The microbiological profile did not significantly influence the success rates of probing procedures in this cohort.
Purpose:
To analyze the microbiological spectrum and antibiotic sensitivity patterns in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO).
Methods:
One hundred thirty-four eyes of 123 children in the age group of 0-16 years with a diagnosis of CNLDO who underwent lacrimal surgical procedures were included in this prospective comparative study. Sixty-two children in the age-matched group planned for intraocular surgery with patent nasolacrimal duct were deemed controls. The conjunctival swab after performing Regurgitation on Pressure over the Lacrimal Sac in the CNLDO group and the conjunctival swab in controls were sent for microbiological analysis. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done for commonly employed antibiotics by the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method.
Results:
Of 134 samples collected in the CNLDO group, 111 (82.8%) samples were culture positive. There were 165 bacteria isolated, among which 139 (84.24% of isolates) were Gram-positive bacteria, and 26 (15.75% of isolates) were Gram-negative. Fungal isolates were obtained in 2.23% of cases. The most common Gram-positive isolate was Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) (n = 51, 30.9% of total isolates), and the most common Gram-negative isolate was Haemophilus influenza species (n = 9, 5.5% of total isolates). Gram-positive isolates were sensitive mostly to gentamicin and vancomycin (95.5% each), and Gram-negative isolates to amikacin (92.3%). Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates were susceptible to gatifloxacin (80% each). Probing outcomes were similar among Gram-positive (success, 84.6%) and Gram-negative (success, 84.0%) organisms.
Conclusions:
There was a predominance of Gram-positive isolates in children with CNLDO with S. epidermidis being the most common. The microbiological profile did not have any effect on the outcomes of probing.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Sputum Studies II: Culture and Sensitivity
Sputum culture and sensitivity is a medical procedure used to diagnose bacterial infections in the respiratory tract and select the most appropriate antibiotics for treatment. This process involves analyzing sputum samples of thick and opaque secretions produced in the lungs and airways. These samples are collected from patients and then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
The test can identify various pathogens responsible for respiratory infections, including Streptococcus,...
01:26Urine Studies II: Urine Culture and Sensitivity Test