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. 2009 Jun;123(6):623-5.
doi: 10.1017/S0022215108003460. Epub 2008 Sep 2.

Nasal bacterial carriage in adult epistaxis: is neomycin the answer?

F D L Walker  1 , D E C Baring
Affiliations

Nasal bacterial carriage in adult epistaxis: is neomycin the answer?

F D L Walker et al. J Laryngol Otol. 2009 Jun.

Abstract

Introduction: After treatment of epistaxis, patients are routinely supplied with an intranasal bactericidal cream containing neomycin. Neomycin cream is effective in preventing recurrent paediatric epistaxis. This study aimed to assess whether there is an increased rate of nasal bacterial infections in adult epistaxis patients.

Methods: Between October 2004 and April 2005, nasal swabs were taken from adult patients presenting with epistaxis, and from a control group comprising elective ENT patients.

Results: There were 23 controls and 26 epistaxis patients. Staphylococcus aureus was grown in 21 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively. There was no significant difference in bacterial carriage rates between the epistaxis and control groups.

Conclusions: The epistaxis and control groups demonstrated the same bacterial species and the same proportion of bacterial carriage. Although the majority of bacterial species encountered were sensitive to neomycin, a significant proportion was not. These results do not support the routine use of neomycin in the prevention of recurrent adult epistaxis.

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