Pharmacokinetic and therapeutic trial of sultamicillin in acute sinusitis

Sultamicillin, an antibiotic combining ampicillin and the beta-lactamase inhibitor sulbactam, was administered to 13 patients diagnosed as having acute sinusitis. Specimens from sinus were obtained for all 13 patients by transantral puncture. Pharmacokinetics, bacteriology, and therapeutic efficacy were assessed. Eighty-five percent (11 of 13) were cured; two treatment failures were subsequently shown to have chronic (rather than acute) sinusitis during surgical exploration. Diarrhea was frequently encountered, and Clostridium difficile-associated enteritis was documented for one patient. Beta-lactamase-producing organisms were not encountered in this study; however, this study provides impetus for further controlled clinical trials.