Search

Background: The long-term impact of rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) on general health and medical services utilization in young adults have been limitedly studied., Methods: A case-control study in the Israeli Defense Forces, between the years 2005 and 2019, of all individuals with either rhinitis or CRS and a matched cohort of healthy individuals with a minimum of 5 years of consecutive follow-up., Results: The study groups included 617 patients with rhinitis and 296 patients with CRS and 2739 healthy controls with an average age of 28 years. During a mean follow-up of 8 years, a significant fraction of patients in both study groups were diagnosed with asthma compared to the control group, (26.1% and 23.3% vs. 3.7%, respectively; CI 95%: 12.1%-14.9%, p < 0.0001). 7.6% of patients with rhinitis developed CRS. Significantly increased loss of productivity and medical system utilization were noted in the study groups compared to controls (p < 0.0001). Moreover, deterioration in general health, manifested as loss of physical fitness for combative service was observed in a third of patients during follow-up., Conclusions: Rhinitis and CRS significantly impact productivity and medical service utilization in young adults, as well as general health associated with development of asthma and impairment of physical fitness. A minority of rhinitis patients develop CRS overtime, further affecting this patient group. These patients should be followed up and managed to improve disease control and associated outcomes., Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 133:3299-3303, 2023., (© 2023 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives: Orbital complications are the most common complication of acute rhinosinusitis, especially among pediatric patients. While most cases are treated with antibiotics alone, severe presentation may demand surgical intervention. Our goal was to determine which factors predict the need for surgery and to investigate the role of computerized tomography in the decision process., Methods: A retrospective review of all children hospitalized between 2001-2018 with orbital complications of acute rhinosinusitis in a university-affiliated children's hospital., Results: A total of 156 children were included. Mean age was 7.9 years (1-18 years). Twenty-three children (14.7%) were surgically treated, and the rest were conservatively treated. High fever, ophthalmoplegia and diplopia in association with minimal or no response to conservative treatment were predictive for surgical intervention, as well as higher inflammatory indices. Eighty-nine children (57%) underwent imaging during hospitalization. Presence of a subperiosteal abscess, as well as its size and its location were not found to be predictors for surgery., Conclusion: Clinical and laboratory findings in association with minimal or no response to conservative treatment predict the need for surgical intervention in cases of orbital complications of acute rhinosinusitis. As Computerized Tomography scans can have long-term implications in the pediatric population, caution and patience should be practiced when deciding on the timing of imaging in this population. Thus, close clinical and laboratory monitoring should lead the decision-making process in these cases and imaging should be reserved for when the decision for surgery has been made.

Background: Acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis has been associated with high mortality rates., Objective: We aimed to explore the contribution of novel detection and treatment methods on the outcome of immunosuppressed children with acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis., Methods: The records of all children with a hematologic or oncologic disease who developed acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis between 2005-2020 were reviewed., Results: Thirty-four patients were included. Aspergillosis and mucormycosis were diagnosed in 20 patients (59%) and 12 patients (35%), respectively. Panfungal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was associated with a change of treatment in 36% of patients. A more aggressive surgical approach as well as treatment with liposomal amphotericin B and novel antifungals were adopted in recent years. Overall, 26% of patients died of disease, however no disease-specific death occurred since 2012. Diagnosis using panfungal PCR ( p    =   .04) and treatment with novel antifungal medications ( p    =   .017) were significantly associated with disease-specific survival., Conclusion: Enhanced fungal detection using panfungal PCR and treatment with novel antifungal agents, combined with rapid diagnosis and treatment, aggressive surgical approach and better control over the underlying oncological disease, may significantly improve the outcome of immunosuppressed children with acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the microbiology of recurrent acute exacerbations of chronic rhinosinusitis over time., Methods: Retrospective review of patients with recurrent acute exacerbations of chronic rhinosinusitis who underwent endoscopic-guided cultures during acute exacerbations of chronic rhinosinusitis., Results: 386 cultures were obtained from 112 patients during recurrent acute exacerbations of CRS. A change of bacterial isolates during the course of recurrent exacerbations was observed in 68% (76/112) of patients, necessitating a change of treatment in 40% (45/112). The main risk factor for the subsequent change in cultures was polymicrobial growth. Sinus surgery was not associated with subsequent change in cultured isolates. Resistant strains developed in 11.6% (13/112) of patients, of whom those with abnormal mucociliary clearance being at the highest risk., Conclusion: Repeated middle meatal cultures should be considered in patients with recurrent exacerbations of CRS, particularly in cases not responding to standard therapy.

Purpose: To carry out a pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of a novel, drivable endoscope (the Peregrine™ Drivable ENT Scope), compared to standard rigid endoscopes in the access, visualization, and irrigation of the paranasal sinus anatomy., Methods: A prospective, multi-center, feasibility study was conducted on seventeen subjects who underwent primary functional endoscopic sinus surgery and were evaluated with the drivable endoscope and standard, rigid endoscopes (0°, 30° and 70°, as applicable). A CT scan was available for image guidance, as needed. The primary efficacy endpoint was the ability to access and visualize sinonasal anatomic landmarks. Secondary endpoints included device usability, as measured by a usability questionnaire given to surgeons postoperatively; the device's ability to irrigate the sinuses and patient reports of tolerability and pain during postoperative procedures., Results: The drivable endoscope success rate in visualizing all paranasal sinus anatomic landmarks was 55.6% better than the standard rigid endoscopes: 98.3% (178/181) versus 42.7% (76/178); p < 0.001. Surgeons rated scores of over 4 (on a 1-5 scale) for the usability of the drivable endoscope to enter the maxillary, frontal and sphenoid sinuses. The ability to irrigate the sinuses using the drivable endoscope was given a mean score of 4.3, and image quality was given a mean score of 3.4. The three patients evaluated postoperatively reported low pain and high tolerability scores with the drivable endoscope., Conclusions: These preliminary results indicate that the drivable endoscope is effective, easy to use and highly tolerable in sinonasal endoscopy.

Background: The impact on quality of life (QoL) of bilateral inferior turbinate reduction (BITR) performed in the setting of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has been a point of controversy. The aim of this study was to determine whether addition of BITR to ESS is associated with improved QoL when compared with ESS alone., Methods: This study presented findings a multi-institutional, retrospective analysis of a prospective open cohort of patients electing ESS for failed medical management of CRS. QoL parameters were compared between patients who underwent ESS alone vs those who underwent ESS with BITR., Results: A total of 571 patients with CRS who elected to undergo ESS were identified. Sixty-one of these patients also underwent concurrent BITR, whereas 510 patients underwent ESS without BITR. Mean length of follow-up was 15.1 months. Comparison between baseline and last postoperative QoL, olfaction, and endoscopic scores revealed significant improvement in both groups. Overall, BITR surgery was not significantly associated with clinically significant incremental improvement in QoL in either the polyp or non-polyp group. Nevertheless, statistically significant improvement was noted for the nasal congestion/blockage symptom in polyp patients (p = 0.006) and in primary surgery patients (p = 0.027) who underwent BITR., Conclusion: BITR in the setting of ESS for CRS is not associated with significant incremental improvement in overall QoL vs ESS alone. However, BITR in polyp and primary surgery patients undergoing ESS appears to offer a significant incremental improvement in nasal congestion/blockage symptoms compared with ESS alone. Future studies are warranted to better corroborate these findings., (© 2019 ARS-AAOA, LLC.)

Background: Orbital complications of rhinosinusitis in adults are scarcely discussed in the literature., Objective: To review our experience with the management of orbital complications of rhinosinusitis in the adult patient population and identify key factors in the characteristics and management of these patients., Design: Retrospective case series during the years 2004 to 2016 in a tertiary referral center including all patients with rhinosinusitis and orbital complications., Main Outcomes and Measures: Severity of complications, risk factors, clinical, imaging and microbiological data, treatment outcomes., Results: Seventy patients were identified. Median age at diagnosis was 38 years. In 57%, complications were associated with acute rhinosinusitis and in 43% with chronic rhinosinusitis, most of whom had a history of previous sinus surgery. Thirty-five percent of patients received antibiotics prior to admission. The majority of the previously operated patients (61%) had some form of orbital wall dehiscence noted on imaging. Preseptal cellulitis was the most common complication (61.5%) encountered, followed by orbital cellulitis (23%), sub-periosteal abscess (11.5%), orbital abscess (3%), and cavernous sinus thrombosis (1.5%). Gram-positive bacteria were more commonly isolated from acute rhinosinusitis patients and gram-negative bacteria from chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients. Complete recovery was noted in all patients, of whom 85% were managed conservatively. All, but 1 patient, with an abscess or cavernous sinus thrombosis required surgical drainage. Older age was the only risk factor identified for severe complications., Conclusions: In contrast to the pediatric population, CRS is very common in adults with orbital complications of rhinosinusitis, with previous sinus surgery and orbital wall dehiscence being noticeably common. Older patients are at risk for more severe complications. Conservative treatment suffices in patients with preseptal and orbital cellulitis. In more advanced stages, surgical drainage is advocated with excellent results. Larger cohort studies are needed to further investigate this patient group.

Introduction: Survival rates of solid organ transplant recipients are steadily increasing. Chronic immunosuppression is a key to sustain the transplanted organ. Thus, these patients are at a higher risk for fulminant disease and severe complications of rhinosinusitis (RS). Surprisingly, this has been scarcely discussed in the literature., Objective: To analyze the characteristics and disease course of RS in solid organ transplant recipients., Materials and Methods: Retrospective study. Medical records of all solid organ transplant recipients with a diagnosis RS treated at a national transplant center between the years 2001 and 2016 were reviewed., Results: Of 4562 solid organ transplant recipients, a documented diagnosis of RS was identified only in 61 (1.3%) patients. Sixty-four patients presented with posttransplantation RS; of them, 54.5% had chronic RS (CRS) and the remaining 45.5% patients were diagnosed with acute RS. Microbial cultures grew almost exclusively bacterial pathogens. A documented invasive fungal infection was noted in only 2 patients. A total of 24 (40%) patients underwent endoscopic sinus surgery, the majority (22) for CRS. On subgroup analysis, surgical intervention was more frequent in lung transplant recipients ( P = .005). Neither specific disease nor surgical complications were found., Conclusions: Interestingly, acute fulminant infection or sinusitis complications in solid organ transplant patients were much lower than expected. CRS in this patient group was less frequent than expected as well. Whether chronic immunosuppression minimizes the likelihood for CRS deserves further investigation. A more surgically oriented approach in CRS patients may be favored early in the management course of medically refractory patients in light of patients excellent outcomes.

Background: Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is often recommended for symptomatic patients with recurrent acute or chronic rhinosinusitis who have failed conservative treatment. Postoperative care has been felt to be critical for both maintaining the surgical patency of the operated sinuses and improving patient symptoms. Debridement of the sinonasal cavities is one such postoperative care measure that has frequently been studied in the literature, often with conflicting conclusions., Objectives: To assess the effects of postoperative sinonasal debridement versus no debridement following endoscopic sinus surgery., Search Methods: The Cochrane ENT Information Specialist searched the ENT Trials Register; Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, via the Cochrane Register of Studies); PubMed; EMBASE; Web of Science; ClinicalTrials.gov; ICTRP and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the search was 21 May 2018., Selection Criteria: Randomised controlled trials comparing postoperative nasal debridement versus no debridement in adult patients with recurrent acute or chronic rhinosinusitis undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery. We included studies in which the patients acted as self-controls (i.e. one side of the nose underwent debridement and the other side did not) only for the secondary endoscopy outcomes., Data Collection and Analysis: We used the standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Our primary outcome measures were: health-related quality of life, disease severity (patient-reported symptom scores) and significant adverse effects (bleeding requiring intervention, severe pain, iatrogenic injury). Secondary outcomes were: postoperative endoscopic appearance of the sinonasal surgical cavities (endoscopic scores), recorded use of postoperative medical treatment and rate of revision surgery. We used GRADE to assess the quality of the evidence for each outcome; this is indicated in italics., Main Results: We included four studies (152 participants), with a follow-up duration ranging from three months to 12 months. In two studies patients acted as self-controls, i.e. one side of the nose underwent debridement and the other side did not ('split-nose' studies). The risk of bias in all studies was high, mostly due to the inability to blind the patients to the debridement procedure.Primary outcomesDisease-specific health-related quality of life scoresOnly one study (58 participants) provided data for disease-specific health-related quality of life. At six months follow-up, lower disease-specific health-related quality of life scores, measured using the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22, range 0 to 110), were noted in the debridement group but the difference was not statistically significant (9.7 in the debridement group versus 10.3 in the control group, P = 0.47) (low-quality evidence).Disease severity (patient-reported symptom score)Only one study (60 participants) provided data for disease severity measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) score. No significant differences in total symptom score were observed between groups postoperatively (low-quality evidence).Significant adverse effectsSignificant adverse effects related to the debridement procedure were not reported in any of the included studies, however it is not clear whether data regarding adverse effects were not collected or if none were indeed observed in any of the included studies.Secondary outcomesAll four studies assessed thepostoperative endoscopic appearance of the sinonasal cavities using the Lund-Kennedy score (range 0 to 10). A pooled analysis of endoscopic scores in the two non 'split-nose' studies revealed better endoscopic scores in the debridement group, however this was not a statistically significant difference (mean difference -0.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.35 to 0.72; I² = 0%; two studies; 118 participants) (low-quality evidence). A sub-analysis of the adhesion formation component of the endoscopic score was available for all four studies and revealed a significantly lower adhesion rate in the debridement group (risk ratio 0.43, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.68; I² = 29%; four studies; 152 participants). Analysis of the number needed to treat to benefit revealed that for every three patients undergoing debridement, the endoscopic score would be decreased by one point in one patient. For every five patients undergoing debridement adhesion formation would be prevented in one patient.Use of postoperative medical treatment was reported in all studies, all of which recommended nasal douching. Steroids (systemic or nasal) were administered in two studies. However, the data were very limited and heterogeneous, therefore we could not analyse the impact of concomitant postoperative medical treatment.The rate of revision surgery was not reported in any of the included studies, however it is not clear whether these data were not recorded or if there were no revision surgeries in any of the included studies., Authors' Conclusions: We are uncertain about the effects of postoperative sinonasal debridement due to high risk of bias in the included studies and the low quality of the evidence. Sinonasal debridement may make little or no difference to disease-specific health-related quality of life or disease severity. Low-quality evidence suggests that postoperative debridement is associated with a significantly lower risk of adhesions at three months follow-up. Whether this has any impact on longer-term outcomes is unknown.

Background: Packing of the middle meatus and ethmoid cavities is a common practice in endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), but its necessity recently has been challenged. The aim of this study was to formulate a decision-analysis model to determine the need for packing in ESS and identify variables affecting the decision., Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted for all randomized control trials comparing packing to no packing in ESS, and a decision-analysis model was generated. Probabilities and utilities were derived from the literature. Sensitivity analysis was used to determine which variables most affected the model., Results: No packing was associated with better expected utilities than packing. On sensitivity analysis, packing was preferred when the disutility of no packing outweighed the disutility of packing, and when the probability for synechiae was greater than 35% without packing or lower than 2% with packing. When the component of packing removal was subtracted from the overall disutility simulating absorbable packing, the results favored packing., Conclusion: Our decision-analysis model indicates that middle meatal packing is not advantageous for patients undergoing ESS. Absorbable packing materials have a less adverse effect on quality of life than nonabsorbable materials., Level of Evidence: 1a. Laryngoscope, 127:1506-1512, 2017., (© 2017 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Severe forms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), a common upper airway inflammatory disorder, are associated with nasal polyps (NPs). NP disease is ameliorated by glucocorticoid (GC) treatment, whose cellular effects are poorly understood. We therefore assessed the influence of GC therapy on NPs in CRS patients, focusing on regulatory T (T reg ) cells. T reg cell populations were analyzed by flow cytometry in NPs and control tissues from GC-treated CRS patients and controls. After GC exposure, selective expansion of T reg cells was seen within NPs, and not blood or adjacent ethmoid tissues. To confirm direct GC effects, NPs from the same patients were biopsied prior to, and following, 1week of oral GC exposure. Direct expansion of Tregs into the same NP bed was detected in 4/4 CRS patients following GC exposure. T reg cell spikes into NPs were secondary to cellular recruitment given limited Ki67 expression within these regulatory cells. Chemokine gene expression profiling identified several chemokines, notably CCL4, induced within NPs upon GC treatment. Neutralization of chemokine receptor/ligand interactions using CCR4 small molecule antagonists reduced T reg migration towards GC-treated NPs in an ex vivo migration assay. Our findings suggest that the common use of GCs in the treatment of NP disease leads to recruitment of T reg cells from peripheral sites into NP tissues, which may be critical to the anti-inflammatory effect of GCs. Mechanistically T reg expansion appears to be conferred, in part, by chemokine receptor/ligand interactions induced following corticosteroid therapy., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Immunosuppressive therapy places pediatric patients at risk of developing life-threatening sinonasal infections. Diagnosis and treatment are challenging owing to nonspecific signs and symptoms. The aim of this study was to present our department's experience with the surgical management of acute rhinosinusitis in immunosuppressed children., Methods: The records of all children with a hematologic or oncologic disease who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for acute rhinosinusitis from January 2005 to May 2014 were reviewed. Data were retrospectively collected on demographics, clinical and imaging characteristics, microbiology, pathology, treatment and outcome., Results: Thirty-four-immunosuppressed children underwent ESS for acute rhinosinusitis. Most patients had a fungal infection. Nineteen patients died at the end of follow-up; 10 deaths were infection-related. Facial swelling was the only symptom that correlated with death of infection. Relapse of the underlying disease, bone marrow transplantation, and long duration of neutropenia correlated with infection-related mortality. Fungal infection, and specifically Aspergillus, correlated with death from infection., Conclusions: ESS is a safe and efficient procedure for diagnosing and treating immunosuppressed pediatric patients with acute rhinosinusitis. Early detection and aggressive medical and surgical treatment, with control of underlying risk factors, are crucial to improve outcome.

Background: Although the safety of topical nasal steroids is well established for nasal spray forms, data regarding the safety of steroid irrigations is limited. We studied the effect of long-term budesonide nasal irrigations (>6 months) on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) function and intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients post-endoscopic sinus surgery., Methods: This was retrospective case series. Adrenal function was assessed by using the high-dose cosyntropin stimulation test., Results: A total of 48 patients were assessed, with a mean duration of budesonide irrigations of 22 months. Stimulated cortisol levels were abnormally low in 11 patients (23%). None reported to have symptoms of adrenal suppression. Three of 4 patients who repeated the study being off budesonide for at least 1 month returned to near normal levels. Logistic regression analysis revealed that concomitant use of both nasal steroid sprays and pulmonary steroid inhalers was significantly associated with HPAA suppression (p = 0.024). Patients with low stimulated cortisol levels were able to continue budesonide irrigations under the supervision of an endocrinologist without frank clinical manifestations of adrenal insufficiency. IOP was within normal limits in all patients., Conclusion: Long-term use of budesonide nasal irrigations is generally safe, but asymptomatic HPAA suppression may occur in selected patients. Concomitant use of both nasal steroid sprays and pulmonary steroid inhalers while using daily budesonide nasal irrigations is associated with an increased risk. Rhinologists should be alerted to the potential risks of long-term use of budesonide nasal irrigations, and monitoring for HPAA suppression may be warranted in patients receiving long-term budesonide irrigation therapy., (© 2016 ARS-AAOA, LLC.)

There are only limited data in the literature, and none specifically from the Middle East, on the pathogenic bacteria in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) as opposed to healthy nasal cavities and their association with disease severity. The present study was conducted in the department of head and neck surgery of a tertiary medical center. Middle meatal swabs were taken preoperatively from patients with CRS with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) (n = 60), CRS without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP) (n = 50), and control patients with septal deviation (n = 26) or no nasal abnormalities (n = 27). Culture findings were compared among the groups and correlated with CRS severity. Positive pathogenic culture rates were 78% in the CRSwNP group and 64% in the CRSsNP group. Twenty pathogenic bacterial species were identified; the most common was Staphylococcus aureus (27%). The most common Gram-negative isolate was Citrobacter spp. (17%). Gram-negative species were significantly more prevalent in the CRSwNP group than the others. Mean Lund-Mackay scores were 12.8 in the CRSwNP group and 6.9 in the CRSsNP group, and were unrelated to the culture findings. Positive culture rates were significantly higher in the septal deviation (54%) than the nasal healthy group (26%), although both values were significantly lower than in the CRS groups. In conclusion, patients with CRS have higher rates of bacterial isolates than patients without CRS. CRSwNP is associated with more Gram-negative bacteria than CRSsNP, regardless of disease severity. The relatively high positive culture rate in patients with septal deviation merits investigation., (© 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objective: This study aimed to assess sinonasal outcomes in patients with aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) undergoing aspirin desensitization following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS)., Study Design: Case series with chart review., Setting: University hospital., Subjects and Methods: A retrospective review of sinonasal outcomes was conducted for 30 AERD patients undergoing aspirin desensitization and maintenance therapy following ESS. Sinonasal outcomes were prospectively assessed by the Sinonasal Outcomes Test-22 (SNOT-22) and endoscopic polyp grading system. Data were collected preoperatively, 1 and 4 weeks postsurgery (before desensitization), and 1, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months after aspirin desensitization., Results: Twenty-eight of 30 patients (93.3%) successfully completed aspirin desensitization, whereas 2 of 30 (6.7%) were unable to complete desensitization due to respiratory intolerance. Of the 21 patients who successfully completed a minimum of 24 weeks of follow-up, 20 (95.2%) patients demonstrated sustained endoscopic and symptomatic improvement for a median follow-up period of 33 months. After surgical treatment but before desensitization, patients experienced significant reductions in SNOT-22 and polyp grade scores. In the first 6 months after aspirin desensitization, patients experienced further significant reductions in SNOT-22 scores, whereas polyp grade remained stable. The improvements in symptom endoscopic scores were preserved throughout the follow-up period after desensitization. No patients required additional sinus surgery. One patient had to discontinue aspirin therapy due to gastrointestinal side effects. No other adverse reactions to aspirin were noted., Conclusion: Aspirin desensitization following ESS appears to be a well-tolerated and effective adjunctive therapy for long-term control of nasal polyposis in patients with AERD., (© American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2014.)

Objectives/hypothesis: Acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS) is an aggressive and often fatal infection. Despite improvements in medical and surgical therapy, survival remains limited and the factors that contribute to patient outcomes remain poorly understood. The current study systematically reviews and quantitatively synthesizes the published literature to characterize prognostic factors associated with survival., Study Design: Systematic review., Methods: Fifty-two studies comprising a total of 807 patients met inclusion criteria and were used for analysis of treatment, presentation, and outcomes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify prognostic factors., Results: All studies were classified as level 4 evidence, as per definitions provided by the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine. The most common presenting symptoms of patients with AIFS were facial swelling (64.5%), fever (62.9%), and nasal congestion (52.2%). Most patients were treated with a combination of intravenous antifungal medication and surgery. The overall survival rate was 49.7%. On univariate analysis, poor prognosis was associated with renal/liver failure, altered mental status, and intracranial extension. Patients who were diabetic, had surgery, or received liposomal amphotericin B had an improved chance of survival. On multivariate analysis, advanced age and intracranial involvement were identified as independent negative prognostic factors. Positive prognostic factors again included diabetes and surgical resection., Conclusions: The overall mortality of patients with AIFS remains high, with only half of the patients surviving. Diabetic patients appear to have a better overall survival than patients with other comorbidities. Patients who have intracranial involvement, or who do not receive surgery as part of their therapy, have a poor prognosis., Level of Evidence: N/A., (Copyright © 2013 The American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: Reports regarding the incidence and antibiotic susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in rhinosinusitis (RS) are limited. This study was designed to identify epidemiology and trends of MRSA incidence and antimicrobial resistance in the sinonasal cavities., Methods: This is a retrospective case series. All intranasal/sinus cultures obtained by otolaryngologists at Stanford over a 20-year period (1990-2010) were retrospectively reviewed by mining the microbiology database. Nested searches were then made for all S. aureus and MRSA cultures. Patterns of incidence and changes in antibiotic susceptibilities were tabulated and statistical analysis was performed., Results: Our search retrieved 10,387 positive intranasal culture samples, with S. aureus found in 800 (7.7%), and MRSA comprising 110 (1.06%) of this subset. Between the years of 1990 and 1999, only 2/112 (1.7%) of S. aureus-positive nasal cultures were positive for MRSA, with a sharp rise in incidence to 86/606 (14.2%) from 2000 to 2005, and to 22/82, 26.8% from 2006 to 2010. On a percent basis, using logistic regression modeling, this represents a statistically significant increasing trend (p < 0.0001) for MRSA sinusitis. However, over the 20-year interval studied, the patterns of antibiotic resistance among MRSA remained unaltered, especially with regard to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and vancomycin., Conclusion: S. aureus and MRSA isolates from intranasal cultures, which were essentially absent before the year 2000, became significantly more common earlier this decade. These data show the increased role of MRSA in sinusitis. MRSA antibiotic susceptibilities have remained, however, largely stable during this time period.