Etiology and antimicrobial therapy of acute maxillary sinusitis

J Infect Dis. 1979 Feb;139(2):197-202. doi: 10.1093/infdis/139.2.197.

Abstract

Eighty-one adults with symptoms of acute sinusitis were studied by direct needle puncture and aspiration of the maxillary sinus (105 sinuses). Fifty-nine bacterial strains were isolated in titers of greater than or equal to 10(4) colony-forming units/ml; Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae accounted for 64% of the isolates. Other bacteria recovered included anaerobes (12%), Neisseria species (8.5%). Streptococcus pyogenes (3%), alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus (3%), non-group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (3%), Staphylococcus aureus (2%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2%), and Escherichia coli (2%). Viruses were isolated from 11 sinuses; these isolates included rhinovirus (six), influenza A (H3N2) virus (three), and two types of parainfluenza virus (one each). The efficacy of therapy with orally administered ampicillin, amoxicillin, or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was evaluated by a repeat sinus puncture and culture. Clinical and bacteriologic responses to all three regimens were good.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amoxicillin / therapeutic use
  • Ampicillin / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Haemophilus Infections / microbiology*
  • Haemophilus influenzae / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Maxillary Sinus / microbiology
  • Sinusitis / diagnosis
  • Sinusitis / drug therapy
  • Sinusitis / microbiology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / isolation & purification
  • Sulfamethoxazole / therapeutic use
  • Trimethoprim / therapeutic use
  • Viruses / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Ampicillin
  • Amoxicillin
  • Trimethoprim
  • Sulfamethoxazole