Microbiology and choice of antimicrobial therapy for acute sinusitis complicated by subperiosteal abscess in children

Abstract

Objectives: Review past studies of the microbiology of subperiosteal abscesses (SPOA) complicating sinusitis in children and their implications of the antimicrobials administered to treat the infection.

Methods: Literature search was conducted of the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, TRIP, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases from their inception.

Results: The most common pathogens isolated from studies of SPOA complicating sinusitis are aerobic (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus spp., Haemophilus spp., Eikenella corrodens), anaerobic (Peptostreptococcus, Fusobacterium, Prevotella, Porphyromonas, Bacteroides, and Veillonella spp.), and micoaerophilic streptococci (Streptococcus anginosus/Streptococcus milleri group), all members of the oropharyngeal flora. S. pneumoniae and S. aureus were more frequently recovered in children >7 years old, while polymicrobial aerobic-anaerobic flora were more often isolated from those >15 years. The introduction of pneumococcal vaccine reduced the rate of isolation of S. pneumoniae, and correlated with increase of recovery of S. aureus including methicillin resistant strains, as well as Streptococcus pyogenes and S. anginosus/milleri group.

Conclusions: The microbiology and consequently the treatment of respiratory infections including sinusitis and its complications has evolved over the past decades. Establishing the microbiology of SPOA by obtaining appropriate cultures for both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria are essential for proper antimicrobial selection.

Keywords: Acute sinusitis; Anaerobic bacteria; Microbiology; Sinusitis; Staphylococcus aureus; Subperiosteal abscesses.