Acute and chronic bacterial sinusitis.
Sinusitis is one of the most common complaints resulting in physician visits in the United States. An antecedent viral infection of the upper respiratory tract is the most common presentation. Despite its prevalence, most cases resolve spontaneously. Only a small proportion develops a secondary bacterial infection that will benefit from antimicrobial therapy. This article discusses the microbiology and pathogenesis of acute and chronic bacterial sinusitis. The role anaerobic bacterial in chronic and recurrent sinusitis is emphasized, and appropriate antimicrobial regimens are discussed.
Brook
Itzhak
I
Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 4431 Albemarle St. NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA. ib6@georgetown.edu
D000208:Acute Disease; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*