Pharmacists can advise patients with sinus ...

Sinus infections are responsible for 1 out of 5 antibiotics for adults, but new research shows that drugs do not give a significant advantage over placebo. Sinus infections are one of the most common medical complaints for adults in the United States, and they are often treated with antibiotics, despite limited evidence to support this practice. Results of prospective study published in today's edition

Journal of the American Medical Association show that, even when provided in the conditions recommended by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antibiotics are no better than placebo at providing the burden of infections. The authors add that the waiting tactics and providing symptomatic treatment should be better. Currently, the sinuses are responsible for 1 out of 5 antibiotics to adults in the United States. In 2001, evaluation and treatment guidelines developed by a group of CDC recommends that antibiotics are used only for sinus infection moderate to severe symptoms. In a new study led by Jane M. Garbutt, MD, Washington University School of Medicine, was designed to test the effectiveness of these guidelines in the community settings. The study included 166 participants aged 18 to 70 who were recruited from 10 primary care in St. Louis and met the CDC criteria for acute bacterial rhinosinusitis with moderate, severe or very severe symptoms. The most common symptoms at diagnosis were the person handling or fullness, facial pain or pressure, cough, sore strattera online ear, postnazalnoho discharge, nasal congestion and headache. Participants received a 10-day course of amoxicillin (1500 mg per day administered in 3 divided doses per day) or placebo. All participants also received symptomatic treatment as needed for pain and fever (acetaminophen), cough (dextromethorphan hydrobromide and huafenizin) and nasal congestion (pseudoephedrine and salt spray). Overall, 94% of the amoxicillin group and 90% in the control group used a symptomatic treatment. The effectiveness of treatment was measured by means of telephone interviews in 3 days, 7, 10 and 28 using the paranasal sinuses test results 16 (snot-16), which measures the severity of 16 symptoms of sinus-related, patient assessment of symptoms and ability to perform its functions, the frequency of relapse or recurrence, and side effects of treatment. Results showed an average decrease of snot-16 test was the same in both groups on Day 3 (0 59 amoxicillin group; .. 0 54 in the control group) and 10-day (average difference between the groups of points 0 01.), Although they differ on day 7, when the amoxicillin group was on average 0. 19 points lower. In addition, the difference in reported symptoms were not significantly different from the 3-day (37% in the amoxicillin group vs. 34% in the control group) or 10-day (78% for amoxicillin against 80% in controls), but was 7 - day (74% for amoxicillin against 56% in controls). There was also no difference between groups on days missed from work or ability to perform usual activities; rate of relapse or recurrence at 28 days, additional use of health care, or treatment satisfaction. Our results support recommendations to avoid routine antibiotics for treatment of uncomplicated acute rhinosinusitis, the authors concluded. They noted that despite the superiority of amoxicillin over control on day 7 was statistically significant, it was too small to represent any clinically significant changes. We believe that antibiotics are too frequently in primary care settings, said Dr. Garbutt in a statement. We hope that this study provides scientific evidence that doctors can use with patients to explain that antibiotics can not help acute sinusitis. Pharmacists can advise patients with sinus infections for alternatives to antibiotics, including treatment of symptoms. They can also provide patients with nasal sinuses are usually better as quickly without antibiotics, as with them. To read the study (registration may be required), press the button. .