Intranasal Antimicrobial Aerosol Therapy

Kim, Seon Tae

Abstract

The intranasal anti-microbial aerosol therapy using a nebulizer is commonly suggested for the treatment of acute infection or recurrent bacterial infection among patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery. One benefit of the topical antimicrobial therapy is a greater concentration of medication being delivered directly into the sinonasal cavities with reduced systemic complications. Its results are, it significantly increases infection free intervals, and it promotes healing after sinus surgery. There are three main factors which influence the deposition efficiency: particle size, pressure gradient, and the size of the sinus ostium. However, it is still difficult to achieve an effective penetration of the drugs into the sinuses. Nevertheless, current literature has shown the low aerosolized particle deposition to be an efficient method in the para-nasal sinuses. So intranasal topical anti-microbial aerosol therapy is recommended as an additional treatment option for recurrent chronic sinusitis patients who have not responded to or are unable to tolerate oral and intravenous treatment.