How Should I Be Taking Antibiotics?

Antibiotics can be administered in different ways. The most common way to prescribe an antibiotic is orally. But in patients with recurring disease, there are many physicians who give antibiotics intravenously as an outpatient procedure. Antibiotics can also be administered topically via nebulizer, spray, or irrigation preparations. In my experience, topical antibiotics work best in patients who have already undergone sinus surgery. In patients who have not had surgery, the areas to which such antibiotics need to be applied are either partially or totally inaccessible. The bacteria in those areas will thus get suboptimal treatment and are more likely to develop resistance.

Some oral antibiotics deliver the same concentration of drug that their intravenous forms are able to provide. However, this is not true for

all antibiotics. Many physicians still believe, and they may be correct, that intravenous antibiotics always deliver a more reliable drug dose. Regardless of how the antibiotic is taken, the appropriate drug concentration needs to be reached in the bloodstream to achieve results. In any case, I generally use intravenous antibiotics when:

■ The patient experiences stomach upset when taking oral antibiotics

■ Higher blood levels than can be achieved with the oral antibiotic are desired

■ The bacterial infection is not responding to oral antibiotics despite culture sensitivity

■ When the patient suffers from a complication of the sinus infection, including periorbital infection (swelling around the eye, or cellulitis), bulging eyes (proptosis), meningitis, or an eye or brain abscess

■ Surgery reveals significant infection in the underlying bone of the sinuses

Sinus Tips:

Moving to Another State

In the past, physicians recommended that their patients with chronic sinusitis and/or allergies move to another part of the country, where the climate was different, thinking that

Supplements and Nutrients

A balanced diet high in protein, fruits, and vegetables is very important tor patients suffering from CAID. For patients who get frequent infections, I recommend supplementing thei

Sinus Friendly Foods

In the 12th century, the physician Moses Maimonides first prescribed chicken soup as a cold and asthma remedy. People have experienced the same tried-and-true results over the cent

ANTIFUNGAL TREATMENT

Fungus and mold are always present in the air, so it is reasonable to expect that they are also found in our nasal passages. Recent research at the Mayo Clinic has confirmed this t

THROAT SPRAYS AND LOZENGES

Throat sprays are appropriate when you are experiencing a sore throat caused by postnasal drip or during an acute flare-up of a chronic infection. Some products may contain an anti

NASAL EMOLLIENTS, ANTISEPTICS, AND GELS

Nasal emollients and gels allow mucus to glide over dry ciliated hair cells so that it can move through the sinuses with ease. These are useful for soothing your dry nasal membrane