MICROBIOLOGY OF CHRONIC MAXILLARY SINUSITIS - COMPARISON BETWEEN SPECIMENS OBTAINED BY SINUS ENDOSCOPY AND BY SURGICAL DRAINAGE

The aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of sinus aspirates obtained dur ing surgery was compared with culture of samples obtained by endoscopy . Six patients with chronic maxillary sinusitis were evaluated. Polymi crobial flora was found in all specimens (two-to-five isolates/sample) . A total of 24 isolates (18 anaerobic, five aerobic and one microaero philic) was obtained from sinus aspirates, and 25 isolates (16 anaerob ic and nine aerobic) mere found in endoscopic specimens. The predomina nt organisms were Prevotella spp., Fusobacterium nucleatum, Peptostrep tococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. Concordance in the type and conc entration of organisms tvas found in all cases. Sixteen of the 18 anae robes isolated from sinus aspirates were also found in the concomitant endoscopic sample. Five aerobic isolates mere found in both sinus asp irates and endoscopic samples and their concentration was similac. How ever four acrobic gram-positive bacteria (<10(4) cfu/sample) were foun d only in endoscopy samples. This pilot study demonstrates the usefuln ess of endoscopic aspiration in the isolation of bacteria from chronic ally infected maxillary sinuses.