Management of complicated acute sinusitis in the setting of concurrent COVID-19

Intraorbital and intracranial complications of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis require timely medical and surgical treatment to prevent the development of long-term neurologic sequelae. The era of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) has complicated the management of complicated acute rhinosinusitis, especially when patients have concurrent acute sinusitis and COVID-19 infection. This case series aims to highlight the clinical course of pediatric patients at a single tertiary pediatric hospital with concurrent complicated bacterial rhinosinusitis and COVID-19.

A search of pediatric patients treated for COVID-19 and complications from acute sinusitis was performed using billing records for the year 2020-2021 at a single pediatric tertiary hospital. Data regarding presentation, management, microbiology, and hospital course was collected for review.

A total of 6 patients with complicated bacterial sinusitis in the setting of COVID-19 infection were included. All patients were initially managed with medical therapy, consisting of systemic antibiotics, but 3 of these patients ultimately required surgical intervention. Cultures from the cohort grew Staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus intermedius, streptococcus constellatus or Prevotella species. All patients experienced clinical improvements and were eventually discharged home with oral antibiotics.

COVID-19 continues to be an unusual disease especially for the pediatric population. Concurrent complicated acute rhinosinusitis and COVID-19 appear to have higher rates of surgical requirement in the pediatric population. COVID-19 safety precautions have influenced management practices for patients with severe bacterial rhinologic infections. While there may be an association between complicated bacterial rhinosinusitis and COVID-19 infection, further research is necessary to determine a true correlation.