Acute dacryoadenitis is more commonly associated with which infection?

• A. Staph
• B. Herpes
• C. Pseudomonas
• D. Streptococcus

Answer: (A)

Acute dacryoadenitis is an acute infection of the lacrimal gland, and the most common infectious agent behind it is Staphylococcus aureus. This bacterium is a leading cause of acute eyelid and adnexal infections because it is a common skin flora that readily causes rapid-onset inflammation in adnexal tissues, producing the classic signs of fiery swelling over the lacrimal gland, tenderness, and sometimes fever.

Streptococcus can also cause similar presentations but is less common overall. Herpes infections tend to involve viral epithelial processes such as keratitis or blepharitis with characteristic mucosal and dendritic findings, rather than presenting primarily as lacrimal gland swelling. Pseudomonas is more classically linked to contact lens–related conjunctival or corneal infections rather than acute dacryoadenitis. Thus, the infection most commonly associated with acute dacryoadenitis is Staphylococcus aureus.