Background: Dacryocystitis is infection of the lacrimal sac. It results from stasis of lacrimal secretions due to blockage of the nasolacrimal duct. The present study was done to determine the common casuative bacteria and histopathological examination of lacrimal sac in chronic dacryocystitis. Methods: About 50 patients of chronic dacryocystitis are selected. Samples from the contents of the lacrimal sac are collected from these patients and sent to microbiology department for culture for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and fungi .Samples were collected from 13 patients who underwent dacryocystectomy. Results: Fifty patients with an average age of 52.5 years (range, 6mths –70 years) of chronic dacryocystitis were identified. Female subjects (68%) predominated in the present study. As per the cultures from the nasolacrimal sac about 42 (84%) were positive for bacteria, mostly gram positive bacteria predominated by pneumococcus (40%). Non-granulomatous inflammation of the sac is observed in histo pathological reports of all the 13 specimens. Conclusions: Gram positive bacteria mainly pneumococci was the commonest pathogen isolated. In lacrimal sac biopsy, non-granulomatous inflammation consistent with chronic dacryocystitis is the most common finding.

Keywords: Dacryocystitis; Gram Positive Bacteria; Lacrimal Sac.