USE OF CEFDINIR IN ACUTE COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED BACTERIAL SINUSITIS

An estimated 20 million cases of acute community-acquired bacterial si nusitis occur each year in the United States. Antibiotic treatment sho rtens the duration of the illness, decreases mucosal damage that might lead to chronic sinusitis, and limits the spread of infection. Althou gh complications are uncommon, they can be serious. However, the condi tion is usually self-limited, and most patients can undergo an episode without antibiotic treatment. Th is raises the question of the necess ity of treatment. Studies in a rabbit model and imaging studies in hum ans have shown that community-acquired bacterial sinusitis does cause serious damage to the sinuses. Furthermore, patients have delayed reso lution of the infection when they are not treated appropriately. Two l arge randomized trials compared 10 days' treatment with either cefdini r or amoxicillin/clavulanate. Clinical cure rates were approximately 9 0% in both groups, and microbiologic eradication rates were similar. D iarrhea occurred in approximately 20% of both groups. Cefdinir appears to be a satisfactory treatment for acute community-acquired bacterial sinusitis due to sensitive strains of bacteria.