Ear Infections
USE OF ANTIBIOTICS FOR TREATMENT OF ACUTE MAXILLARY SINUSITIS – (05-26-08)
Antibiotics and Topical Nasal Steroid for Treatment of Acute Maxillary Sinusitis
There are several conditions that we, as a society, have been conditioned to associate with antibiotic use. When the poor response to antibiotics is mentioned to patients, they frequently seem at a loss and feel that SOME type of treatment needs to be rendered for conditions such as ear infections, sore throats, bronchitis and sinus infections. The reality is that many of these conditions resolve with or without antibiotic use, and the use of antibiotics is some cases may actually LENGTHEN recovery time. That doesn’t even take into account the damage to normal bacterial flora.
This study finds no benefit to the standard treatment of antibiotics and steroids to sinusitis. Now, many doctors will defend their blatant disregards for the lack of efficacy when giving the prescriptions to the patients, falling back on the belief that patients are demanding some type of prescription. The bottom line is that, if the patient has respect for the knowledge of their physician and their physician clearly articulates why no prescription is needed, it would be much less of a problem.
