Bacterial Flora in Chronic, Purulent Maxillary Sinusitis

Abstract

A series of 100 patients (150 sinuses) with chronic, purulent maxillary sinusitis experienced during a period September-May, 1966, has been studied. Hemophilus influenzae was found in 48.7 per cent of all sinuses and Diplococcus pneumoniae in 29.3 per cent. These two dominating bacterias were usually found in pure culture or together. The presence of Staphylococcus is regarded as an indicator of contamination. Sta-phylococcus aureus in pure culture was found in only 5 sinuses, and in 8 sinuses this bacteria was an additional finding in a dominating growth of Hemophilus influenzae. Diplococcus pneumoniae was evenly distributed during the seasons, while Hemophilus influenzae dominated during the winter and spring seasons, but almost disappeared during autumn. Only patients filling the criteria of chronic, purulent maxillary sinusitis were included. More than half of the patients were younger than 20 years and only 7 over 40 years. The investigation demonstrates that Hemophilus influenzae and Diplococcus pneumoniae are dominating in the younger age groups. Seasonal variations and the dominance of certain bacterias in different age groups must be regarded, when conclusions are made about the etiology of maxillary sinusitis.