Photodynamic therapy of antibiotic‐resistant biofilms in a maxillary sinus model

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States. There is a significant subpopulation of CRS patients who remain resistant to cure despite rigorous treatment regimens including surgery, allergy therapy and prolonged antibiotic therapy. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a non-invasive non-antibiotic broad spectrum antimicrobial treatment. Our previous in vitro studies demonstrated that aPDT reduced CRS polymicrobial planktonic bacteria and fungi by >99.9% after a single treatment. However, prior to human treatment, the effectiveness of aPDT to eradicate polymicrobial biofilms in a maxillary sinus cavity must be demonstrated.