Ocular Infections Due to Anaerobic Bacteria

The increased recovery of anaerobic bacteria in clinical infection has led to greater appreciation of these organisms in ocular infections. In studies that employed adequate method for recovery of anaerobes they were isolated from about a third of patients 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. Anaerobic bacteria were also 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.