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Judicious antibiotic use and intranasal corticosteroids in acute rhinosinusitis

Catherine Butkus Small1, Claus Bachert, Valerie J Lund

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla 10595, USA. Catherine_Small@nymc.edu

The American Journal of Medicine
|April 3, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Intranasal corticosteroids offer a safe alternative for treating acute rhinosinusitis, particularly viral infections. This approach can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and combat growing antibiotic resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Acute rhinosinusitis is frequently treated with antibiotics, despite many cases stemming from viral infections.
  • Overuse of antibiotics for nonbacterial rhinosinusitis fuels antibiotic resistance.
  • Effective, non-antibiotic treatments are crucial for managing viral acute rhinosinusitis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate intranasal corticosteroids as an alternative to antibiotics for acute rhinosinusitis.
  • To assess the efficacy of intranasal corticosteroids in reducing antibiotic use.

Main Methods:

  • Review of controlled trials investigating intranasal corticosteroids for acute rhinosinusitis.
  • Analysis of symptom relief and resolution rates in treated patients.

Main Results:

  • Intranasal corticosteroids demonstrated significant symptom relief in acute rhinosinusitis.
  • These agents were effective both as monotherapy and in combination with antibiotics.
  • Potential to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions.

Conclusions:

  • Intranasal corticosteroids are a viable and effective treatment for acute rhinosinusitis.
  • Their use may decrease reliance on antibiotics, thereby mitigating antibiotic resistance.
  • Consideration of intranasal corticosteroids can improve patient outcomes and public health.

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