Ocular infections due to anaerobic bacteria in children

Abstract

The recent increased recovery of anaerobic bacteria from children has led to greater appreciation of the role these organisms play in pediatric infections at all body sites, including the eye. In studies that employed adequate methods for recovery of anaerobes, they were isolated from approximately one-third of the children with conjunctivitis, half of the time in pure culture. The predominant recovered anaerobes were Clostridium spp., gram-negative anaerobic bacilli, and Peptostreptococcus spp. Anaerobic bacteria were also recovered from patients who wore contact lenses and developed conjunctivitis, and were reported in cases of keratitis. The most frequently recovered anaerobes were Propionibacterium spp., Peptostreptococcus spp., Clostridium spp., Prevotella spp., and Fusobacterium spp. The most frequently recovered anaerobes from dacryocystitis were Peptostreptococcus spp., Propionibacterium spp., Prevotella spp., and Fusobacterium spp. This review describes the microbiology, diagnosis, and management of ocular infections due to anaerobic bacteria in children.