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antibiotic resistant sinus infection
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cltbills posted:
I have an antibiotic resistant sinus infection. After a course of both Bactrim and Cefdinir, my nasal culture showed achromobacter. After another course of Bactrim, the culture now shows pseudomonas as well. The sinus infection has recurred 5 times in the past 10 months. Symptoms start as severe sinus headache, green drainage, constant coughing leading to chest (lung) pain, moderate asthma flare-ups requiring 2 inhalers. When it gets severe, I also have problems with severe eye pain, double vision, and some mental confusion. My ENT referred me to an infectious disease doctor after the latest cultures. The ID doctor says I need no treatment. Does this sound reasonable at all? I don't understand why this wouldn't be treated, as it's obviously not going away on its own, or even with the antibiotics we've tried so far. I cannot locate another local ID doctor who sees outpatients. It is really reasonable to do nothing, despite my symptoms, and see if this eventually goes away? Thank you for any advice!
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:antibiotic resistant sinus infectionI have an antibiotic resistant sinus infection. After a course of both Bactrim and Cefdinir, my nasal culture showed achromobacter. After another course of Bactrim, the culture now shows pseudomonas as well. The sinus infection has recurred 5 times in the past 10 months. Symptoms start as severe sinus headache, green drainage, constant coughing leading to chest (lung) pain, moderate asthma flare-ups requiring 2 inhalers. When it gets severe, I also have problems with severe eye pain, double vision, and some mental confusion. My ENT referred me to an infectious disease doctor after the latest cultures. The ID doctor says I need no treatment. Does this sound reasonable at all? I don't understand why this wouldn't be treated, as it's obviously not going away on its own, or even with the antibiotics we've tried so far. I cannot locate another local ID doctor who sees outpatients. It is really reasonable to do nothing, despite my symptoms, and see if this eventually goes away? Thank you for any advice!
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Rod Moser, PA, PhD responded:
I don't know enough of the details of your case to render any type of patient-specific opinion....I am sorry. Most sinus infections are viral, and viruses do not respond to antibiotics, however, you seem to have a bacterial component. At least, you have taken enough antibiotic to cure most things. The pathogen INSIDE your sinuses may not be correlated with the bug that was cultured, most likely from your nose. Nasal cultures are notoriously inaccurate. Has your ENT suggested a needle cutures directly from your sinuses?

What did your sinus CT scan reveal?
Report This| Share this:antibiotic resistant sinus infectionI don't know enough of the details of your case to render any type of patient-specific opinion....I am sorry. Most sinus infections are viral, and viruses do not respond to antibiotics, however, you seem to have a bacterial component. At least, you have taken enough antibiotic to cure most things. The pathogen INSIDE your sinuses may not be correlated with the bug that was cultured, most likely from your nose. Nasal cultures are notoriously inaccurate. Has your ENT suggested a needle cutures directly from your sinuses?<br /> <br />What did your sinus CT scan reveal?
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