Rationale and Comments

Most cases of maxillary sinusitis in the ambulatory setting are caused by a viral infection that will resolve on its own. Despite consistent recommendations to the contrary, antibiotics are prescribed in more than 80% of outpatient visits for acute sinusitis. Sinusitis accounts for 16 million office visits and $5.8 billion in annual health care costs.

Sponsoring Organizations

• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
• American Academy of Family Physicians
• American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation

Sources

• Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
• Annals of Internal Medicine

Disciplines

• Infectious disease
• Otolaryngologic

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  
• Annals of Internal Medicine
  
• Ahovuo-Saloranta A, et al. Antibiotics for acute maxillary sinusitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(2):CD000243.