The aim of this study was the determination of bacteria present in maxillary and ethmoid cavities in patients with chronic sinusitis and to correlate these findings with bacteria simultaneously present in their nasopharynx. The purpose of this correlation was to establish the role of bacteria found in chronically inflamed sinuses and to evaluate if the bacteria present colonized or infected sinus mucosa. Nasopharyngeal and sinus swabs of 65 patients that underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery were cultivated and at the same time the presence of leukocytes were determined in each swab. The most frequently found bacteria in nasopharynx were Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus spp., Streptococcus viridans and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Maxillary or ethmoidal sinus swabs yielded bacterial growth in 47 (72.31%) patients. The most frequently found bacteria in sinuses were Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp. and Streptococci (pneumoniae, viridans and spp.). The insignificant number of leukocytes was present in each sinus and nasopharyngeal swab. Every published microbiology study of chronic sinusitis proved that sinus mucosa were colonized with bacteria and not infected, yet antibiotic therapy was discussed making no difference between infection and colonization. Chronic sinusitis should be considered a chronic inflammatory condition rather than bacterial infection, so routine antibiotic therapy should be avoided. Empiric antibiotic therapy should be prescribed only in cases when the acute exacerbation of chronic sinusitis occurs and the antibiotics prescribed should aim the usual bacteria causing acute sinusitis. In case of therapy failure, antibiotics should be changed having in mind that under certain circumstances any bacteria colonizing sinus mucosa can cause acute exacerbation of chronic sinusitis.

Based on these results, we do not consider Helicobacter pylori to be a normal constituent of healthy laryngeal microflora.

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a symptomatic inflammation of the mucosa of the nose and paranasal sinuses lasting for at least 12 weeks. Atypical bacteria Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are important causes of human respiratory tract infection. Also, they were identified in bronchial respiratory epithelium of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma. Having in mind the unified airway concept, it is also possible that these bacteria can cause persistent infection of sinus mucosa in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Sixty consecutive patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who underwent the functional endoscopic sinus surgery due to medical therapy failure were included in the study. During the operation, sinuses were irrigated with sterile 0.9% NaCl solution and this lavage was immediately aspirated. Aspirates were used for the detection of C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae DNA using real-time PCR. C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae DNA were not detected in samples analysed. Atypical bacteria C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae did not cause persistent infection of sinus mucosa in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

The classic tonsillectomy method with bipolar cauterization is the method of choice due to lower postoperative pain levels and sooner normal eating. The quality of life is better after undergoing the classic tonsillectomy method.

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