Bacteriological findings in nasopharynx specimens from patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute sinusitis.
OBJECTIVE
To study results from bacteriological specimens from nasopharynx in patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute sinusitis in relation to CT findings.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Patients from general practice in Vestfold county, Norway.


METHODS
427 patients 15 years and older from two studies with a clinical diagnosis of acute sinusitis, and who were examined with coronal CT scans of the paranasal sinuses. Fluid level or total opacification of any sinus was taken as a hallmark of sinusitis.


METHODS
Bacteriological findings in nasopharynx specimens and proportions of various sinus pathogens in patients with and without sinusitis confirmed by CT.


RESULTS
In the study, 252 patients had acute sinusitis and 175 patients did not. In the sinusitis groups, 27% of the patients had Streptococcus pneumonia, 12% had Staphylococcus aureus and 10% had Haemophilus influenzae in their nasopharynx specimens. Forty-five percent of the patients had normal nasal flora or no growth. The strains of Streptococcus pneumonia and Haemophilus influenzae showed high sensitivity to PcV, while the Moraxella strains were resistant to it.


CONCLUSIONS
Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae were the most frequent sinus pathogens found in the nasopharynx specimens, and they were significantly more frequent in the group with confirmed sinusitis. The proportion of specimens with normal nasal flora or no growth was significantly higher in the non-sinusitis group.
Lindbaek
M
M
Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway. morten.lindbak@samfunnsmed.uio.no
Melby
K K
KK
Schøyen
R
R
Hjortdahl
P
P
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D009664:Norway; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents