J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2006 May;47(5):696-702.

Results of the Cultured Jones Tubes Used in Lacrimal Bypass Surgery

• Park SW
• Park JM
• Lee JE
• Lee JS

Abstract

PURPOSE: We evaluated cultured specimens from removed Jones tubes and their antibiotic sensitivities.
METHODS
In 16 patients who had received lacrimal bypass surgery to resolve nasolacrimal duct obstruction, the Jones tubes were removed due to either recurred symptoms, signs of chronic dacryocystitis, the tubes being obstructed, or migration of the tubes. Jones tubes were cultured to identify bacteria and tested for their antibiotic sensitivity.
RESULTS
The average duration from intubation to removal was 11.5 months. Nine cases showed the tube obstruction and six cases showed recurrent inflammation as the respective causes of tube removal. The species of cultured bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus in 9 cases, Pseudomonas in 4 cases, Streptococcus in 2 cases and coagulase negative Staphylococcus in 2 cases. In 1 case, both Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas were cultured. In antibiotics sensitivity tests, 8 of 9 cases of Staphylococcus aureus were resistant to penicillin. The symptoms and signs of nasolacrimal duct obstruction were improved after the tube removal.
CONCLUSIONS
When treating an obstruction of the lacrimal apparatus due to chronic dacryocystitis using lacrimal bypass surgery with Jones tubes, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa should be suspected as the main cause of inflammation of the nasolacrimal system or nasal cavity.

Keyword

Antibiotics sensitivity; Bacterial culture; Chronic dacryocystitis; Jones tube

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Bacteria
Coagulase
Dacryocystitis
Humans
Inflammation
Intubation
Lacrimal Apparatus
Nasal Cavity
Nasolacrimal Duct
Penicillins
Pseudomonas
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Staphylococcus
Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Coagulase
Penicillins