Health
Sinusitis guidelines recommend against quick antibiotic prescribing
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 19, 2005
Unless symptoms are severe, antibiotics should not be prescribed for sinusitis unless the condition continues for at least 10 days. Radiographs and CT scans also are unnecessary, and a diagnosis should be made based on a history and physical exam of the patient, according to a practice parameter published this month in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
The paper was developed by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; and the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
"This practice parameter is intended to improve on the diagnosis and management of patients," said Raymond G. Slavin, MD, lead author and chair of the Sinusitis Update Workgroup. "This will result in reduced health care costs and a better quality of life for patients with sinusitis."
The parameter also urges that if the cause is determined to be bacterial, penicillin should not be used because of increasing resistance to that drug. Patients should be referred to a specialist if the condition becomes chronic, and surgery should be considered only after medical therapies have been unsuccessful.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/12/19/hlbf1219.htm.
