Complicaties van acute rinosinusitis worden niet voorkómen door antibiotica*

Retrospective cohort study This retrospective cohort study reviewed the records of all patients hospitalized in the Netherlands in 2004 with a complication of ARS. The symptoms of ARS and the complication, demographics, medical history, medical treatment preceding hospitalization, diagnostic techniques, therapeutic management, course and outcome were recorded. Forty-seven patients with 48 complications (16 intracranial and 32 orbital) were included. In the intracranial group (mean age 35.9 years), six patients had been treated with oral antibiotics prior to hospitalization. While hospitalized, all patients were treated with intravenous antibiotics and 15 underwent surgery. Eight patients recovered fully after treatment, three patients had residual symptoms and three patients died (the data of 2 patients was missing). Of the 31 patients with orbital complications (mean age 17.4 years), 14 received oral antibiotics before admission. While hospitalized, all patients were treated with intravenous antibiotics and 13 underwent surgery. Twenty-seven patients recovered fully and two had residual symptoms (the data of 2 patients was missing). Severe ARS complications occur in an otherwise healthy population in an estimated 1:12,000 paediatric and 1:32,000 adult cases in the Netherlands. Our study suggests that antibiotic treatment of ARS in general practice does not play a role in preventing complications