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Published on: December 29, 2013
The Effect of Spray Cryotherapy on Microbial Biofilms in Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Diana Vlad1, Alina Dutu2, Anda Apostol2
1Second Department of Otolaryngology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Str. Republicii no. 18, 3400, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. diagav@yahoo.com.
Purpose Of Review:
Microbial biofilms seem to play an active role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). They represent an adaptive defense resource enabling resistance to antibiotics and host defense mechanisms. Biofilms are thought to be accountable for refractory cases of sinusitis by perpetuating local inflammation. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of spray cryotherapy as a biofilm disruption agent in CRS in an in vitro model.
Recent Findings:
A total of 23 patients with CRS undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) were included. Rhinosinusal mucosa samples were harvested. Half of sample was left intact while the other half was treated with spray cryotherapy, so patients served as their own witnesses. Subsequently, they were processed to hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and toluidine blue (TB) staining and analyzed by light microscopy. Biofilms were detected in 17 of 23 patients with CRS. Staining by HE showed strong correlation with the results of TB staining protocol. The in vitro CRS study demonstrated that spray cryotherapy removed polymicrobial biofilms from the mucosa surface in 70.6% of cases and induced important structural changes in the remaining samples. Thus far, cryotherapy has proven to be a reliable method for the disruption of microbial biofilms in CRS with nasal polyps, in vitro conditions. Spray cryotherapy could be a considerable benefit in the management of recalcitrant CRS.
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Chronic Pharyngitis
Etiology
It often arises from persistent viral or bacterial infections affecting sinuses and tonsils.
Additional contributing factors include inadequate dental hygiene, mouth breathing, recurring tonsillitis, allergic rhinitis, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and exposure to smoke, chemicals, and other environmental pollutants. Allergic reactions to pollen, mold, and pet dander, chronic cough, excessive voice usage,...

