The importance of the anaerobic bacteria in paranasal sinusitis

The anaerobic examination of the material, obtained by 100 antral punctures, in 66 patients with paranasal sinusitis, showed the importance of the anaerobic bacteria. In 33% we found anaerobes: 12% of the cultures were pure anaerobic, 21% were mixed aerobic-anaerobic. The most frequent anaerobe is the Peptostreptococcus. Anaerobic cultures are more frequently found in the unilateral cases of paranasal sinusitis. The presence of anaerobes does not seem to be dependent on the patient's age, the duration of the sinusitis and the previous administration of antibiotics during the last 3 days. In 76% the anaerobes disappeared after the initial antral puncture and washing.