Treatment of chronic sinusitis with open drainage and cefaclor

A prospective study of 50 adult patients with chronic sinusitis was undertaken. Forty patients were treated with the Caldwell-Luc operation and postoperative cefaclor, and 10 underwent nasal antrostomy and treatment with cefaclor. Approximately 85% of the 40 patients had resolution of symptoms with this treatment. The microbiology of chronic sinusitis was studied through aerobic and anaerobic cultures of sinus secretions obtained at surgery. Staphylococcus aureus (coagulase-negative) and Propionibacterium sp were found to be the most common pathogens. The radiologic results of Caldwell-Luc surgery were studied through comparison of preoperative and postoperative radiographs in 33 of these patients. An air-fluid level is the only radiographic sign of consistent diagnostic significance in the postoperative radiograph.