Microbiology of acute and chronic maxillary sinusitis associated with an odontogenic origin.
OBJECTIVE
: To study the microbiology of sinusitis associated with odontogenic origin.


METHODS
: Aspirates of 20 acutely and 28 chronically infected maxillary sinuses that were associated with odontogenic infection were processed for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.


RESULTS
: A total of 66 isolates were recovered from the 20 cases of acute sinusitis (3.3/specimen), 16 aerobic and facultatives, and 50 anaerobic. Aerobes alone were recovered in 2 (10%) specimens, anaerobes only in 10 (50%), and mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in 8 (40%). The predominant aerobic were alpha-hemolytic streptococci (5), microaerophilic streptococci (4), and Staphylococcus aureus (2). The predominant anaerobes were anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli (22), Peptostreptococcus (12), and Fusobacterium spp. (9). A total of 98 isolates were recovered from the 28 cases of chronic sinusitis (3.5/patient): 21 aerobic and facultatives and 77 anaerobic. Aerobes were recovered in 3 (11%) instances, anaerobes only in 11 (39%), and mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in 14 (50%). The predominant aerobes were alpha-hemolytic streptococci (7), microaerophilic streptococci (4), and S. aureus (5). The predominant anaerobes were Gram-negative bacilli (41), Peptostreptococcus (16), and Fusobacterium spp. (12). Thirteen beta-lactamase-producing bacteria (BLPB) were recovered from 10 (50%) patients with acute sinusitis and 25 BLPB from 21 (75%) patients with chronic sinusitis. No correlation was found between the predisposing odontogenic conditions and the microbiological findings.


CONCLUSIONS
: These data illustrate the similar microbiology of acute and chronic maxillary sinusitis associated with odontogenic infection where anaerobic bacteria predominate in both types of infections.
Brook
Itzhak
I
Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA. ib6@georgetown.edu
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015523:Maxillary Sinusitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology