Pivampicillin (Pondocillin®) in the Treatment of Maxillary Sinusitis

Abstract

Systemic antibiotics appear to have only a doubtful or slight effect on recovery from sinusitis. Since it has been demonstrated that a sufficient tissue level of ampicillin should be expected in the mucosa of the maxillary sinus following a new peroral ampicillin derivative, pivampicillin (Pondocillin®), some effect would be expected in the treatment of cases of maxillary sinusitis caused by sensitive bacteria. In a double blind study of cases with acute, subacute or chronic maxillary sinusitis without fever, 45 patients were treated with pivampicillin, 356 mg four times daily, nasal decongestant and daily lavage, and 55 patients with placebo, decongestant and daily lavage. The trial disclosed a difference in the average recovery time of 0.9 days. This difference is not significant. The treatment had to be discontinued in 3 patients in the pivampicillin treated group, as the patients developed urticaria, nausea or abdominal pain and diarrhoea. However, discontinuance was also necessary in one patient in the control group, due to the same side effects.