Bhattacharyya Neil
Harvard Medical School, Division of Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 333 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2002 Nov;2(6):500-6. doi: 10.1007/s11882-002-0091-1.
Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common condition, yet little is understood about its pathogenesis. Chronic infection traditionally has been considered a significant factor in the etiology and manifestations of chronic rhinosinusitis. Bacteria can be recovered in most cases of chronic rhinosinusitis, most commonly consisting of Staphylococcus species, anaerobes, and in some cases, gram-negative bacteria. Increasing trends toward bacterial resistance have been identified in chronic rhinosinusitis. Recently, a potential role for fungal infection has emerged. A knowledge of the microbiology of chronic rhinosinusitis will help guide treatment, but more research is required to understand further the exact role of infection in the pathophysiology of chronic rhinosinusitis.
