Acute rhinosinusitis: When to prescribe an antibiotic
Yes, the majority of antibiotics prescribed for acute rhinosinusitis are unnecessary, but when should you prescribe one and which one(s) should you use?
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS
› Reserve antibiotics for patients who meet diagnostic criteria for acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS). Patients must have purulent nasal drainage that is accompanied by either nasal obstruction or facial pain/pressure/fullness and EITHER symptoms that persist without improvement for at least 10 days OR symptoms that worsen within 10 days of initial improvement (“double sickening”). A
› Offer watchful waiting and delay antibiotics for up to 7 days after diagnosing ABRS in a patient if adequate access to follow-up is available; otherwise, treat with amoxicillin (with or without clavulanate) for 5 to 10 days. A
Strength of recommendation (SOR)
A Good-quality patient-oriented evidence
B Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence
C Consensus, usual practice, opinion, disease-oriented evidence, case series
Specialist referral
Referral to Otolaryngology is indicated for patients with > 3 episodes of clinically diagnosed bacterial sinusitis in 1 year, evidence of fungal disease (which is outside the scope of this article), immunocompromised status, or a persistent temperature ≥ 102°F despite antibiotic therapy. Also consider otolaryngology referral for patients with a history of sinus surgery.2,5,6
CORRESPONDENCE
Pamela R. Hughes, Family Medicine Residency Clinic, Mike O’Callaghan Military Medical Center, 4700 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Nellis AFB, NV 89191; pamela.r.hughes4.mil@mail.mil.
