This study evaluated 458 patients with acute or chronic maxillary sinusitis to compare the microbiology of sinus infections between smokers and nonsmokers. Cultures were obtained from sinus secretions collected endoscopically. The most common bacteria found in acute sinusitis for both groups were S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and M. catarrhalis. Chronic sinusitis was associated with S. aureus and anaerobic bacteria. Smokers had an increased risk of respiratory infections due to impaired immune function and bacterial binding caused by smoking. Previous antimicrobial use was also linked to higher levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA in sinus infections.
This study evaluated 458 patients with acute or chronic maxillary sinusitis to compare the microbiology of sinus infections between smokers and nonsmokers. Cultures were obtained from sinus secretions collected endoscopically. The most common bacteria found in acute sinusitis for both groups were S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and M. catarrhalis. Chronic sinusitis was associated with S. aureus and anaerobic bacteria. Smokers had an increased risk of respiratory infections due to impaired immune function and bacterial binding caused by smoking. Previous antimicrobial use was also linked to higher levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA in sinus infections.
This study evaluated 458 patients with acute or chronic maxillary sinusitis to compare the microbiology of sinus infections between smokers and nonsmokers. Cultures were obtained from sinus secretions collected endoscopically. The most common bacteria found in acute sinusitis for both groups were S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and M. catarrhalis. Chronic sinusitis was associated with S. aureus and anaerobic bacteria. Smokers had an increased risk of respiratory infections due to impaired immune function and bacterial binding caused by smoking. Previous antimicrobial use was also linked to higher levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA in sinus infections.
This study evaluated 458 patients with acute or chronic maxillary sinusitis to compare the microbiology of sinus infections between smokers and nonsmokers. Cultures were obtained from sinus secretions collected endoscopically. The most common bacteria found in acute sinusitis for both groups were S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and M. catarrhalis. Chronic sinusitis was associated with S. aureus and anaerobic bacteria. Smokers had an increased risk of respiratory infections due to impaired immune function and bacterial binding caused by smoking. Previous antimicrobial use was also linked to higher levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA in sinus infections.
Advisor : Dr. Djoko PA, Sp. THT-KL JOURNAL IDENTITY Title : Microbiology of Acute and Chronic Maxillary Sinusitis in Smokers and Nonsmokers Writers : Itzhak Brook, MD, MSc Jeffrey N. Hausfeld, MD Publisher : Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology 120(11):7O7-7I2. 2011. Annals Publishing Company
INTRODUCTION Smoking has a significant impact on the oropharyngeal bacterial flora of children, as well as adults. Active smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk of bacterial infections. No previous study has compared the microbiology of sinus aspirates obtained from smokers to that of those obtained from nonsmokers. PATIENTS AND METHODS The population studied was a middle-class one residing in suburban locations in the vicinity of Washington, DC. Cultures were obtained from 458 patients, 244 (87 smokers and 157 nonsmokers) of whom had acute maxillary sinusitis and 214 patients (84 smokers and 130 nonsmokers) of whom had chronic maxillary sinusitis, between 2001 and 2007. CRITERIA INCLUSION The patients with acute infection had symptoms that had lasted between 10 and 30 days Those with chronic infection had symptoms for more than 90 days None of those with chronic sinusitis had previous sinus surgery. Smokers were defined as individuals who had smoked at least 10 cigarettes a day for the past 5 years RADIOGRAPHY
Radiography with occipitomental (Waters view), lateral, oblique, and verticomental views or computed tomography was performed. Sinusitis was defined radiographically as complete sinus opacity, ie, an air-fluid level or mucous membrane thickening of at least 6 mm in the maxillary sinus. For the Waters view, mucosal thickening of the maxillary sinuses was measured as the shortest distance from the air-mucosal interface to the most lateral part of the maxillary sinus wall. SPECIMENS Specimens were obtained through endoscopy, and the sinus secretions were collected with calcium alginate- tipped microswabs. Cultures were obtained endoscopically before therapy with calcium alginate swabs that were immediately plated into media supportive of the growth of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. RESULTS This study evaluated 458 patients (244 with acute and 214 with chronic maxillary sinusitis) after exclusion of an additional 110 patients (62 with acute and 48 with chronic sinusitis) whose culture did not show any bacterial growth. The patients' ages ranged from 18 to 75 years (mean, 42 years 4 months). 265 were male and 193 were female. No differences were noted in the age distribution, ethnicity, or gender of the patients.
DISCUSSION Our study confirms the predominance of S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis, group A. beta-hemolytic streptococci, and S. aureus in community-acquired acute sinusitis in adults. Similarly, S. aureus and anaerobic bacteria (Prevotella, Porphyromonas, Fusobacterium, and Peptostreptococcus spp.) were found to be the main isolates in chronic sinusitis. Adults who smoke have an increased risk of respiratory tract infections, including sinusitis, and of oral colonization by potentially pathogenic bacteria. These phenomena were explained by enhanced bacterial binding to epithelial cells of smokers, and by the low number of aerobic and anaerobic organisms with inhibitory activity against bacterial pathogens (interfering organisms) in the oral cavity of smokers. Tobacco smoke also compromises the antibacterial function of leukocytes, including neutrophils, monocytes, T cells, and B cells, providing a mechanistic explanation for increased infection risk. It is therefore not surprising that smokers are more often exposed than nonsmokers to antimicrobial therapies, which subsequently lead to greater acquisition of antimicrobial resistance The presence of MRSA in the infected sinus may not only lead to failure of antimicrobial therapy, but can also serve as a potential source for the spread of these organisms to other body sites, as well as an origin for dissemination to other individuals. Furthermore, MRSA that also produces beta-lactamase can survive treatment with beta-lactam antibiotics and continue to protect penicillin-susceptible pathogens from penicillins. The association between previous use of antimicrobial therapy and increased isolation of MRS A has been noticed in community- and hospital-acquired infections, as well as in patients with sinusitis. This study found that the majority of patients with sinusitis infected with MRSA who were previously treated with antimicrobials had been treated with either a fluoroquinolone or an extended-spectrum macrolide antibiotic. Newer treatment options for MRSA include linezolid, quinupristin-dalfopristin, daptomycin, and tigecycline. Antimicrobials effective against aerobic and anaerobic BLPB are amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid, moxifloxacin, and the carbapenems. Clindamycin is effective against anaerobic BLPB, but has no activity against H influenzae. Topical antibiotic therapy has been effectively utilized in treatment of MRSA, as well as BLPB-associated sinusitis. Topical application of antibiotics to the sinus membranes offers the potential benefit of a high concentration of the drug at the site of infection. Such topical antibiotics include gentamicin, tobramycin, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, and mupirocin.