title: Bacterial pathogens of acute sinusitis in the osteomeatal complex during common colds and wellness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pathogenic bacteria have been cultured from the osteomeatal complex (OMC) in one-third of adults with apparent acute bacterial sinusitis; however, it is not known whether bacteria are present in the OMC during uncomplicated viral colds in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult volunteers were recruited for a study during wellness and at the time of acute common cold. Swab cultures were obtained from the OMC and from the nasopharynx by 2 routes (through the nose and through the mouth). Swab eluates were inoculated on selective agars to detect S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and M. catarrhalis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bacterial pathogens were detected in the OMC more frequently during common colds than during wellness (31% vs 8%, p < 0.008). Pathogens detected in the OMC were always present in the nasopharynx of the subject.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bacterial pathogens are present in the OMC in a subgroup of adult patients with uncomplicated upper respiratory illness/common cold. The nasopharynx appears to be the reservoir for bacterial pathogens in the OMC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: J Owen
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Hendley
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winther
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003139:Common Cold / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*