Microbiological profile in chronic rhinosinusitis patients in a rural hospital of India

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis is one of the most common health problem a detailed microbiological profile of which is necessary to guide its proper management. The aim of this study was to identify the microbial pattern present in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery at a rural tertiary care hospital in India. Methods: A prospective study was done in ENT department of MGIMS, Sewagram over a period of 2 years. A total of 94 patients were included in the study. They were clinically diagnosed to have chronic sinusitis and confirmation was done by CT imaging of paranasal sinuses. During FESS, sinus secretions were aspirated and were subjected to bacterial and fungal culture. Bacterial and Fungal pathogens were identified according to the standard protocol. Results: In the 94 patients, the mean age was 33.44 years and Male female ratio was 1.08: 1. Staphylococcus was the commonest organism isolated in 54 cases (57.4%) followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae in 5 cases (5.3%), Klebsiella in 1 case (1.1%), E.coli in 1 case (1.1%) and Pseudomonas aerogenosa in 1 case (1.1%).Fungus (Aspergillus niger) was isolated in 2 patients (2.1%) and no pathogens were found in 30 (31.9%) patients. Conclusions: In CRS bacterial etiology is the commonest.