ACTINOMYCES ODONTOLYTICUS: A RARE CAUSE OF PRIMARY CHRONIC LACRIMAL CANALICULITIS.

Rui Ping CHEW,^1,2 Akmal Haliza ZAMLI,¹ Julieana MUHAMMAD,² Kamariah ABDUL JALIL.³

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.

²Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, School of erian, Kelantan, Malaysia.

³Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Jalan Sultan Mahmud, 20400 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia.

ABSTRACT     

Actinomyces odontolyticus is a predominant Actinomyces species in the oral cavity, pharynx, and distal esophagus. We report a rare case of primary chronic lacrimal canaliculitis caused by A. odontolyticus. A 63-year-old woman presented with left eye epiphora for three years associated with medial upper lid swelling, redness, and chronic yellowish discharge. After clinical examination and investigations, she was successfully treated with topical cefuroxime 5%, topical fluorometholone 0.1%, and intracanalicular syringing with cefuroxime 5%. Spontaneous extrusion of canaliculiths led to complete resolution.

Keywords: Actinomyces, Actinomyces odontolyticus, Chronic, Lacrimal, primary canaliculitis.

Corresponding author: Dr Julieana Muhammed, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 6150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

Tel: +609 7676372/6362, Fax: +609 7653370

Email: drjulieana@usm.my

Brunei Int Med J.2023;19:70-74