Antibiotic treatment of patients with mucosal thickening in the paranasal sinuses, and validation of cut-off points in sinus CT.

Abstract

We compared the efficacy of penicillin V and amoxycillin treatment with placebo in 70 adult patients from Norwegian family practice with a clinical diagnosis of acute sinusitis and mucosal thickening on CT, but without fluid level or total opacification. The study was randomized and double-blind. Three different outcomes were evaluated; subjective status after 10 days of treatment, difference in clinical score between day 0 and day 10, and duration of the illness episode. Amoxycillin and penicillin V gave no better response to treatment than placebo, evaluated by all three outcome measures. The median duration of the sinusitis episode was 10 days in the amoxycillin- and placebo groups and 13 days in the penicillin-V group. In patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute sinusitis, fluid level and total opacification on CT are good criteria to differentiate between groups of patients that need or do not need antibiotic treatment.

• Authors: M Lindbaek, E Kaastad, S Dølvik, U Johnsen, E Laerum, P Hjortdahl
• Journal: Rhinology (Rhinology) Vol. 36 Issue 1 Pg. 7-11 (Mar 1998) ISSN: 0300-0729 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 9569434 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Penicillins
• Amoxicillin
• Penicillin V

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Amoxicillin (therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Family Practice
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nasal Mucosa (drug effects, pathology)
• Norway
• Penicillin V (therapeutic use)
• Penicillins (therapeutic use)
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Sinusitis (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Treatment Outcome