Microbiological analysis of paranasal sinuses in chronic sinusitis – A south Indian coastal study

Abstract

In contrast with the well established roles of microbes in the etiology of acute sinusitis, the exact roles of all of these microbes in the etiology of chronic sinusitis are uncertain. The objective of the study is to analyze micro-flora present in patients with chronic sinusitis in the coastal belt of India. A cross sectional study was done to analyze the microorganisms of paranasal sinuses in patients having chronic sinusitis undergoing a functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Biopsy/Swabs were taken from the infected sinus of the patients during surgery and were sent for microbiological analysis within 4 h of collection. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolate accounting for 43% of the patients followed by Klebsiella spp., 9% and MRSA, 3%. Fungal organisms identified were Aspergillus and Candida spp. isolated from 9% of the patients, which is very high compared to the other studies. No anaerobes were isolated. The possibility of a fungal infection should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of difficult to treat diseases of the paranasal sinuses especially in tropical coastal regions. Based on results we can vary the choice of antibiotics in chronic and acute rhino-sinusitis leading to a better management of the condition.