Ethmoid sinus mycology of chronic rhinosinusitis

An overview of possible pathogenesis mechanisms of Alternaria alternata in chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis

Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a multifactorial disease, and different etiologies like metabolism and immunity disorders, bacterial superantigens, biofilms, and fungal allergens are known to develop this disease, especially the CRS with nasal polyps. Alternaria alternata (Alternaria) is one of the most prevalent airborne fungal species in the nasal discharge, which might have vigorous immunologic activities in nasal epithelial cells and play an essential role in the pathogenesis of CRS. Moreover, the interaction between this fungus and the innate and adaptive immune systems leads to the development of chronic inflammation. This inflammation may consequently instigate the CRS and nasal polyposis. The attenuation of surfactant protein synthesis or intracellular reserves and mucus hypersecretion could prevent the clearance of Alternaria from sinuses and may be correlated with colonization and re-infection of airborne fungi. Furthermore, higher expression of cathelicidin, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, toll-like receptors, and T helper 2-dominant immune responses can result in an IgE-mediated pathway activation and eosinophils degranulation. Moreover, higher local Alternaria-specific IgE was shown to be correlated with eosinophilic cationic proteins and might relate to nasal polyps. However, the role of genetic and environmental factors affecting CRS and nasal polyposis is not well studied. Likewise, further animal and clinical studies are required to better understand the role of Alternaria in CRS disease. The current article reviews the recent findings around the Alternaria-induced CRS and nasal polyposis.

Efficacy of nasal irrigation with 200 μg/mL amphotericin B after functional endoscopic sinus surgery: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown controversial results of topical amphotericin B (AMB) nasal irrigation for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 200 μg/mL AMB nasal irrigation as an adjuvant therapy after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).

METHODS

Patients with CRS who had received FESS for treatment were recruited and assigned to 1 of 2 groups at random at 1 month postsurgery. In the AMB group patients received nasal irrigation with 200 μg/mL of AMB for 2 months on a daily basis. In the control group normal saline irrigation was given instead. Before FESS and before and after nasal irrigation, patients' sinonasal symptoms were assessed through a questionnaire that was a Taiwanese version of the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (TWSNOT-22). In addition, patients received endoscopic examination, acoustic rhinometry, smell test, saccharine transit test, and bacterial cultures obtained from their middle meati.

RESULTS

A total of 73 patients completed the study between December 2014 and January 2017. Among them, 37 received nasal irrigation with AMB solution, and 36 with saline. In the AMB group, scores of TWSNOT-22 dropped significantly after irrigation compared with before (p = 0.005). In the control group, TWSNOT-22 scores did not changed after irrigation (p = 0.451). However, there were no significant differences in TWSNOT-22, endoscopic score, smell test, saccharine transit test, and bacterial culture rate after irrigation between 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that in post-FESS care, nasal irrigation with 200 μg/mL of AMB did not provide additional benefit compared with saline irrigation.

Endoscopically-derived bacterial cultures in chronic rhinosinusitis: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Culture-directed antibiotic therapy represents an important component in the management paradigm of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature to assess culture yield of the most common aerobic and anaerobic pathogens.

METHODS

A total of 43 studies between 1975 and 2010 were included.

RESULTS

The composite data comprised 3528 patients with 6005 total culture specimens. The cultures were obtained in operating room in 33 (76.7%) and clinic in 10 (23.3%) of the studies, respectively. The most common site of culture was the maxillary sinus in 18 (41.9%) of the studies. The most common assay techniques reported were swab in 19 (44.2%) and aspirate in 12 (27.9%) studies. The most common gram positive aerobes reported were coagulase negative Staphylococcus and Staphylococcus aureus in 630 (34.7%) and 481 (26.5%) of the cultures, respectively. The most common gram negative aerobes included Haemophilus influenzae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 245 (27.0%) and 198 (21.6%) cultures, respectively. The most common anaerobes reported were Peptostreptococcus species in 156 (19.6%) and Bacteroides species in 153 (19.2%) cultures.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a composite snapshot of the literature accrued on the microbiology of CRS. It should serve to apprise clinicians on the most common aerobic and anaerobic organisms in CRS patients when employing culture-directed antimicrobial therapy.