DETECTION OF RHINOVIRUS IN SINUS BRUSHINGS OF PATIENTS WITH ACUTE COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED SINUSITIS BY REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION-PCR

Of 20 adults with acute community-acquired sinusitis (ACAS), rhinoviru s was detected in specimens from 10 (50%) patients, including maxillar y aspirates from 8 (40%) patients and nasal swabs from 9 (45%) patient s, by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). Human coronavirus was detect ed by RT-PCR in nasal swabs from 3 of 20 patients but in no sinus secr etions. These findings suggest that rhinovirus is an important cause o f ACAS and that viral invasion of the sinus cavity itself may be a com mon event during the disease.