Loading...
We lack strong evidence that antibiotics are effective in acute bacterial sinusitis that is diagnosed clinically in primary care settings. Nevertheless, prescribing rates of 80% or higher are common in the U.S. and several European countries.
In this U.K. study, 240 adults with clinically diagnosed bacterial sinusitis were randomized to receive amoxicillin (500 mg 3 times daily for 1 week) plus nasal placebo, intranasal budesonide (200 µg intranasally daily for 10 days) plus oral placebo, both active treatments, or double placebo. Patients were required to meet at least two of the following criteria: unilateral or bilateral purulent rhinorrhea, unilateral sinus pain, and purulence on nasal inspection. Patients with recurrent sinusitis or sig…