Lacrimal Infections

PATHOGENS

• Common pathogens:
  
  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Candida spp.
  • Actinomyces
  • S. aureus
  • Streptococcus species 
• Dacryoadenitis (DA):
  
  • Acute: staphylococci, streptococci; rarely N. gonorrhoeae.
    • Pediatrics: EBV, mumps, CMV, enteroviruses
  • Chronic DA: usually non-infectious. If infectious, consider TB, syphilis, leprosy, cysticercosis, schistosomiasis; blastomycosis, histoplasmosis.
• Canaliculitis (CA):
  
  • Acute: primary condition due to infection such as Actinomyces, Propionibacterium acnes, streptococcal species, Candida, Aspergillus, Nocardia, HSV, VZV. Many other pathogens described.
  • Secondary CA: due to punctal or intracanalicular plug; common presentation is the dry eye syndrome.
• Dacryocystitis (DC):
  • Acute: staphylococci, streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, H. influenzae.
  • Chronic: fungal (Candida, Aspergillus), mycobacteria (TB and MOTT) and non-infectious causes (such as sarcoid).