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Background: Acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS) is an aggressive disease that requires prompt diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment given its rapid progression. However, there is currently no consensus on diagnosis, prognosis, and management strategies for AIFS, with multiple modalities routinely employed. The purpose of this multi‐institutional and multidisciplinary evidence‐based review with recommendations (EBRR) is to thoroughly review the literature on AIFS, summarize the existing evidence, and provide recommendations on the management of AIFS. Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were systematically reviewed from inception through January 2022. Studies evaluating management for orbital, non‐sinonasal head and neck, and intracranial manifestations of AIFS were included. An iterative review process was utilized in accordance with EBRR guidelines. Levels of evidence and recommendations on management principles for AIFS were generated. Results: A review and evaluation of published literature was performed on 12 topics surrounding AIFS (signs and symptoms, laboratory and microbiology diagnostics, endoscopy, imaging, pathology, surgery, medical therapy, management of extrasinus extension, reversing immunosuppression, and outcomes and survival). The aggregate quality of evidence was varied across reviewed domains. Conclusion: Based on the currently available evidence, judicious utilization of a combination of history and physical examination, laboratory and histopathologic techniques, and endoscopy provide the cornerstone for accurate diagnosis of AIFS. In addition, AIFS is optimally managed by a multidisciplinary team via a combination of surgery (including resection whenever possible), antifungal therapy, and correcting sources of immunosuppression. Higher quality (i.e., prospective) studies are needed to better define the roles of each modality and determine diagnosis and treatment algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the perceived symptoms caused by the sinuses as defined by otolaryngology patients and clinicians. Study Design: Multi‐institutional cross‐sectional study. Setting: Six academic outpatient otolaryngology practices. Methods: We performed a multi‐institutional, cross‐sectional study using a semantics‐based questionnaire. Consecutive patients were enrolled at 6 academic otolaryngology centers from June 2020 to May 2021. The primary outcome examined patient and provider definitions for the symptoms caused by the sinuses from a list of 28 proposed terms covering 6 general categories. These data were also collected from otolaryngology faculty at the same institutions. Results: Responses were obtained from 451 patients (54% female, mean age 48.3 years) and 29 otolaryngologists (38% female, mean age 37.4 years). Patients selected a median of 12 terms, compared to 8.5 for otolaryngologists. Among patients, the most frequently selected symptom domains were mucus (419, 92.9%), airflow (412, 91.4%), and pain (389, 86.3%). Compared to clinicians, patients more frequently selected symptoms related to the ear (difference, 48.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 34.8%‐59.3%), throat (difference, 35.7%, 95% CI, 22.0%‐47.5%), systemic (difference, 34.4%, 95% CI, 21.2%‐46.0%), mucus (difference, 20.5%, 95% CI, 10.2%‐30.6%), and airflow domains (difference, 19.0%, 95% CI, 8.4%‐29.3%). Multiple domains were selected by 98% of patients and 79% of providers. Conclusion: Semantic differences exist between patients and clinicians regarding the symptoms caused by the sinus with patients having a broader range of perceived symptoms. These differences may provide clues to improve communication between otolaryngologists and their patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Manuka honey attacks biofilms, which contribute to bacterial persistence in cystic fibrosis sinusitis. The primary objective was to determine feasibility of investigating manuka honey as an irrigation treatment for cystic fibrosis sinusitis and secondarily to assess the treatment's preliminary effectiveness. Design: Prospective, single‐blinded (clinician only), randomised, parallel two‐arm pilot trial. Setting: Tertiary rhinology clinic. Participants: Subjects had recalcitrant cystic fibrosis sinusitis and previous sinus surgery. They received manuka honey or saline sinus irrigations twice daily for 30 days. Main Outcome Measures: Main outcomes were recruitment/retention rates and tolerability. Preliminary effectiveness was assessed based on quality‐of‐life Sinonasal Outcome Test‐22 and Lund‐Kennedy endoscopic change scores and post‐treatment culture negativity. Results: Over 10 months, 13 subjects were enrolled, and 77% (10/13) were included in the analysis. Manuka honey irrigations were well‐tolerated. The quality‐of‐life change score was clinically significant for manuka honey (−9 [−14,−6]) but not saline (−5 [−9,−1]), although the difference was not statistically significant (P =.29). Lund‐Kennedy endoscopic change score was significantly better for manuka honey (−3 [−5,−3]) versus saline (0 [0,0]) (P =.006). There was no difference in post‐treatment culture negativity between manuka honey (1/5, 20%) and saline (0/5, 0%) (P = 1.00). Conclusions: Manuka honey irrigations were well tolerated, and retention rates were high. Preliminary data showed that manuka honey achieved a clinically important difference in quality‐of‐life score and a significantly better endoscopic outcome. Microbiological control was difficult to achieve. A future definitive trial would require multi‐institutional recruitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic invasive fungal sinusitis (CIFS) is a rare, life‐threatening infection of the nose and sinuses. This study aims to identify factors that impact survival in 1 of the largest cohorts to date. Methods: Pathology records were reviewed for biopsy‐proven CIFS from 3 tertiary academic institutions from 1995 to 2016. Variables were analyzed using log‐rank survival analysis. Univariate Cox regression was performed at 1 and 12 months. Results: Thirty‐eight patients were included. Hematologic malignancy and diabetes were the most common underlying diseases (32% each). Aspergillus was the most common fungus (63%). Greater than 75% of the patients had an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >1000 at the time of diagnosis. Overall survival at 1, 6, and 12 months was 89%, 68%, and 48%, respectively. In univariate analysis, factors associated with worse survival included: ANC <500 at 12 months (hazard ratio [HR] 4.8; p = 0.01), ANC <1000 at 12 months (HR 5.8; p = 0.001), and recent chemotherapy (HR 4; p = 0.01). The following factor was associated with improved survival in univariate analysis: ANC as a linear variable in the entire cohort (HR 0.7; p = 0.005). Conclusion: We present a multi‐institutional case‐series of CIFS and long‐term follow‐up. ANC <1000 at time of diagnosis and recent chemotherapy (within 1 month of diagnosis) are associated with poorer survival, whereas a rising ANC >1000 is associated with improved survival at 12 months. Further prospective studies are needed to further define factors that affect outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sinus infections are a common reason patients seek medical care. However, the intended meaning of the term sinus infection among patients and otolaryngologists is incompletely understood. Methods: In this multi‐institutional cross‐sectional study, a semantics‐based questionnaire was provided to consecutive patients presenting to otolaryngology clinics at six academic centers from June 2020 until May 2021. The primary outcome was respondent definitions for sinus infection from a list of 28 proposed terms covering six general categories. Secondary outcome measures included differences between geographic regions. Results: Responses were obtained from 560 patients (54% female, mean age 48.9 years) and 29 otolaryngologists (42% female, mean age 37.4 years). Patients and otolaryngologists selected a median of 10 and 11 terms, respectively, to define a sinus infection. Among patients the most frequently selected symptom categories were mucus (500, 89.3%), pressure/pain (480, 85.7%), and airflow (468, 83.6%). Compared to patients, clinicians selected with greater frequency the symptom categories of pressure/pain (14.3% difference; 95% CI, 7.6% to 22.5%), mucus (10.7% difference; 95% CI, 4.7% to 18.3%) and airflow (13.0% difference; 95% CI, 4.8% to 21.7%). Multiple categories were selected by 96% of patients and 100% of providers. Conclusion: The definition of sinus infection appears variable for both patients and otolaryngologists, though patients appear to apply a broader range of symptoms to the term sinus infection. There were no pronounced geographic differences in the description of a sinus infection in this US sample population. Patients commonly described sinus infection in the context of pain‐related symptoms. Appreciation of these semantic differences may enable more effective patient‐clinician communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS) is a rare, aggressive infection occurring in immunocompromised patients. In this study we examined factors that affect survival in AIFS, and whether immune‐stimulating therapies (IST) improve survival. Methods: Pathology records of biopsy‐proven AIFS were reviewed from 3 academic institutions from 1995 to 2016. Univariate and multivariate Cox regressions were performed at 1 and 3 months from diagnosis. Results: One hundred fourteen patients were included; 45 received IST. In the univariate analysis, the following factors were associated with worse survival: hematologic malignancy (3‐month hazard ratio [HR], 3.7; p = 0.01); recent chemotherapy (within 1 month of AIFS diagnosis) (3‐month HR, 2.3; p = 0.02); recent bone marrow transplant (BMT) (3‐month HR, 2.5; p = 0.02); and infection with atypical fungi (1‐month HR, 3.1; p = 0.04). The following were associated with improved survival in univariate analysis: increasing A1c% (1‐month HR, 0.7; p = 0.01) and surgical debridement (1‐month HR, 0.1; p = 0.001). One third of patients with a hematologic malignancy had an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >1000 at the time of diagnosis. ANC was not associated with prognosis in these patients. The following were associated with worse survival in multivariate analyses: hematologic malignancy; recent chemotherapy; atypical organisms; and cavernous sinus extension. In multivariate analyses, IST was associated with a 70% reduction in mortality at 1 month (p = 0.02). Conclusion: We presented the largest series of AIFS. Further studies are needed to examine the importance of ANC in diagnosis and prognosis. Patients diagnosed with atypical organisms may be at higher risk of death. IST likely improves short‐term survival, but prospective studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]