WHAT ROLE FOR ANTIBIOTICS IN OTITIS-MEDIA AND SINUSITIS

Patients often expect to be given antibiotics for any illness affectin g the ears and sinuses, regardless of whether such treatment is warran ted. Consequently, bacterial resistance to these agents is rising, mak ing antibiotic choice a moving target. What types of otitis media and sinusitis should be treated with antibiotics, and which agents are cur rently the most effective for each condition? Drs Ahuja and Thompson d iscuss the established classification and treatment guidelines for the se conditions and shed light on the dilemma regarding when and when no t to treat.