Bacteriology of antrum in children with chronic maxillary sinusitis.

Swabs from 93 chronically inflamed maxillary sinuses in children were taken from aerobic and anaerobic bacteria during endoscopy. Bacterial growth was present in 87/93 specimens (93%). Anaerobic bacteria were isolated in 81/87 culture-positive specimens (93%) and were recovered alone in 61 cases (70%) and mixed with aerobic or faculative bacteria in 20 (23%). Aerobic or facultative bacteria were present alone in six cases (7%). A total of 261 isolates (3/specimen), 19 (2.4/specimen) anaerobes and 69 (2.6/specimen) aerobes or facultatives, were isolated. The predominant anaerobic organisms were Bacteroides sp. and anaerobic cocci; the predominant aerobes or facultatives were Streptococcus sp. and Staphylococcus aureus. These findings indicate the important role of anaerobic organisms in chronic sinusitis.