Treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis using  erythromycin phonophoresis.
Bacterial biofilms have been implicated in many chronic infective diseases, including chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Therapeutic ultrasound enhances the breakdown of bacterial biofilms and is clinically effective in CRS treatment, while phonophoresis has also been utilized for antibiotic delivery through the skin. The objective of this case report is to describe the results of a novel treatment, erythromycin phonophoresis, in a woman with CRS. A 31-year-old woman with a 7-month history of CRS refractory to conventional medical management was treated with erythromycin phonophoresis to both maxillary sinuses. Individual sinus symptom severity was assessed and sinus CT scans were obtained both pretreatment and posttreatment. After treatment, the total sinusitis symptom score improved from 12 to 0 and the CT scan showed almost complete disease resolution. At 5-month follow-up, the patient reported sustained improvement. Erythromycin phonophoresis has potential as an effective treatment for CRS.
Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. nakhostin@sina.tums.ac.ir
Noureddin Nakhostin
NN
Ansari
Mojtaba
M
Fathali
Soofia
S
Naghdi
Jim
J
Bartley
Mohammad Saeed
MS
Rastak
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015523:Maxillary Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D015612:Phonophoresis; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004917:Erythromycin