Infect Chemother.  2011 Oct;43(5):383-389. 10.3947/ic.2011.43.5.383.

Bacterial Upper Respiratory Infections

• Kim SW

• KMID: 2285010
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2011.43.5.383

Abstract

Acute bacterial upper respiratory infections include acute rhinosinusitis, acute pharyngotonsillitis, acute laryngitis, and acute epiglottitis. These are common reasons for primary care visits. Acute bacterial sinusitis usually occurs as a secondary complication of acute viral sinusitis. Acute viral sinusitis will recover over the course of 7-10 days without antibiotics. Amoxicillin is a drug of choice for acute bacterial sinusitis in the practice guidelines. Patients with acute pharyngotonsillitis should be treated with antibiotics (amoxicillin) for 10 days with the purpose of prevention of rheumatic fever. Use of rapid antigen detection should be encouraged for the appropriate use of antibiotics, especially in Korea. Etiologies of acute laryngitis in adults are mainly viruses. However, M. pneumoniae, M. catarrhalis, H. influenzae are major bacterial pathogens of laryngtitis. Acute epiglottitis, cellulitis of the epiglottis, is a life-threatening infection. Airway keeping and antibacterial therapy against H. influenzae and other bacterial pathogens are main stays of management. Evidence-based approach is greatly in need for appropriate care for patients with bacterial upper respiratory infections.

Keyword

Upper respiratory infections; Bacterial Infections; Evidence-based practice

MeSH Terms

Adult
Amoxicillin
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Bacterial Infections
Cellulitis
Epiglottis
Epiglottitis
Evidence-Based Practice
Humans
Influenza, Human
Korea
Laryngitis
Pneumonia
Primary Health Care
Respiratory Tract Infections
Rheumatic Fever
Sinusitis
Amoxicillin
Anti-Bacterial Agents

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