Acute Sinusitis: A Clinical, Bacteriological and Serological Study with Special Reference to Haemophilus Influenzae

Abstract

A non-selected material of 86 patients with symptoms and signs of acute sinusitis were treated with either of two penicillin preparations, phenoxymethylpenicillin and α-azido-benzylpenicillin (azidocillin). No therapeutical differences were found between the two preparations. Pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 50 of the 86 patients. H. influenzae and D. pneumoniae were the most common pathogens found, 36% and 20% respectively. X-ray examination was performed on 76 patients and revealed that fluid level was more often connected with isolation of D. pneumoniae than with H. influenzae. 66 patients (77%) were healed within 10 days. 11 patients (13%) were judged as therapeutic failures and from most of them H. influenzae was isolated. A higher frequency of delayed healing or therapeutic failure was found in children than in adults. Raised complement fixation titers were generally demonstrated in patients with H. influenzae infection.