First place--resident basic science award 1999. Effects of leukotriene and cyclo-oxygenase inhibition on adaptive bone remodeling in the middle ear

Provider Attitudes Associated With Adherence to Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines in a Managed Care Setting

In a cross-sectional observational study of Rochester (New York) primary care physicians (PCPs) enrolled in a pay-for-performance (P4P) collaboration, the authors investigated attitudinal factors associated with provider adherence to evidence-based clinical guidelines targeted by explicit incentives. The multivariable adherence model linked guideline adherence rates to provider attitudes among 186 survey respondents, adjusting for individual, practice, and community characteristics. Adherence was defined as the percentage of expected services that were delivered. Attitudes associated with adherence, independent of specialty and prior behavior, were financial salience (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 3.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7-8.4), peer cooperation (OR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.0-4.0), control (OR = 0.5; 95% CI = 0.3-1.0), and autonomy regarding the health plan (OR = 0.3; 95% CI = 0.1-0.6). The most adherent providers perceived P4P as financially salient and felt supported by peers. Some PCPs might have perceived P4P and external interventions as challenging their autonomy and “crowding out” their intrinsic motivation, leading them to reduce efforts aimed at guideline adherence.

New insights into pediatric rhinosinusitis

Rhinosinusitis is a common children's disease. Most cases are acute, follow an episode of common cold, and are the consequence of a superimposed bacterial infection. If mild, they are characterized by the persistence of signs and symptoms of upper respiratory tract disease for more than 10 days; if severe, they involve fever and a purulent nasal discharge, and can cause a substantial decline in general health. Recurrent acute or chronic cases are usually diagnosed in children with predisposing factors, such as recurrent respiratory tract infections, allergic rhinitis, cystic fibrosis, immunodeficiency, ciliary dyskinesia, anatomic abnormalities or reflux. Therapy is based on antibiotics, administered orally in mild, and intravenously in severe cases. On the basis of recently highlighted antibiotic resistances and the possibility of spontaneous resolution, experts agree in considering amoxicillin the drug of choice for mild cases, and an antibiotic capable of overcoming all possible resistance for severe cases.

From clinical practice to guidelines: how to recognize rhinosinusitis in children

Rhinosinusitis is a common childhood respiratory infection. Children have approximately six to eight viral infections of the upper respiratory tract each year, 5-13% of which may be complicated by a secondary bacterial infection of the paranasal sinuses. The diagnosis of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in children is established by the persistence of purulent nasal or post-nasal draining lasting at least 10 days, especially if accompanied by supporting symptoms and signs, at which point antibiotic treatment has to be recommended. Appropriate antibacterial therapy should also be recommended if the draining has been present for less time, but is concomitantly associated with significant fever and localized signs of sinus inflammation in a child who appears ill. Imaging studies are not necessary to confirm the diagnosis of clinical rhinosinusitis for the purposes of treatment, but should be reserved for cases in which the diagnosis is in doubt or a complication is suspected, and for patients with recurrent or chronic rhinosinusitis. Under these circumstances, computed tomography is the preferred evaluation. Together with their clinical judgment, these suggestions may be useful for pediatricians in diagnosing this common condition.

Pharmacologic management of chronic rhinosinusitis, alone or with nasal polyposis

Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) commonly present with nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, facial pressure/pain, and hyposmia of prolonged duration. Recent evidence suggests that, despite clinical similarities, CRS and CRSwNP are distinct entities with separate inflammatory pathways and cytokine profiles. Antibiotics and nasal steroids are the mainstay of treatment in CRS, whereas combination systemic and nasal steroids are the foundation of CRSwNP management. Allergy therapy may play a significant role in CRS, whereas antileukotriene therapy has demonstrated promise in CRSwNP. Although prolonged medical therapy is usually necessary with both disorders, surgery may also be required to relieve refractory symptoms, and to improve sinus aeration and nasal access for topical therapy.

Treatment options for acute sinusitis in children

Much controversy exists regarding the best diagnostic method for acute sinusitis, the efficacy of antibiotics, the best choice of antibiotics, the most appropriate duration of therapy, and the efficacy of ancillary measures and nasal corticosteroids. The therapeutic goal is to identify those children who are more likely to have bacterial sinusitis and unlikely to resolve spontaneously, who may require treatment with antibiotics. The inaccuracy of clinical signs and symptoms complicates further the management of these children. Acute sinusitis is expected to resolve spontaneously in most cases, including many cases of bacterial sinusitis. Antibiotics are needed only for a minority of non-self-resolving infections. Based on current resistance considerations, approximately 80% of bacterial infections are expected to respond to standard doses of amoxicillin. High-dose amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, or other b-lactam antibiotics should be considered for children at high risk for carrying resistant organisms. Evidence for the effectiveness of ancillary measures is limited.

Acute community-acquired bacterial sinusitis: the value of antimicrobial treatment and the natural history

Two areas of investigation were reviewed: (1) placebo-controlled trials of antimicrobial treatment involving patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute community-acquired bacterial sinusitis (ACABS) for whom pre- and posttherapy sinus aspirate cultures were not performed, and (2) uncontrolled trials of antimicrobial treatment involving patients with ACABS for whom pre- and posttherapy sinus aspirate cultures were performed. The clinical diagnostic criteria in the controlled trials were not correlated with sinus aspirate culture results and, thus, were of questionable validity. Most of the populations probably included patients with viral rhinosinusitis. In 10 uncontrolled studies, the posttreatment, weighted, pooled mean bacterial resolution rate (+/- standard error) at 7-10 days, based on sinus aspirate culture results, was 91%+/-10%. In 9 controlled trials, the weighted pooled mean rate of clinical improvement (+/- standard deviation) at 7-14 days for placebo recipients was 52%+/-18%. In 1 controlled trial in which diagnosis was based on duration of unimproved illness, 57% of placebo recipients and 85.5% of treated patients were healthy or had improved by day 10. Additional studies of ACABS are needed.

Short treatment durations for acute bacterial rhinosinusitis: Five days of gemifloxacin versus 7 days of gemifloxacin

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study was to demonstrate the clinical and radiologic efficacy of 5 days compared with 7 days of gemifloxacin therapy in the treatment of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS).

STUDY DESIGN

In this prospective, double-blind, multicenter, parallel-group study, adult patients presenting with ABRS were randomized to receive gemifloxacin 320 mg once daily for either 5 days (n = 218) or 7 days (n = 203).

RESULTS

For the primary efficacy end point, clinical response to therapy at follow-up, 5 days of therapy with gemifloxacin was as effective as 7 days of therapy (per-protocol population; treatment difference 0.44%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -6.54 to 7.41). Five and 7 days of treatment with gemifloxacin were well tolerated.

CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE

The clinical efficacy of gemifloxacin 320 mg daily for 5 days is at least as good as the efficacy of gemifloxacin 320 mg daily for 7 days in the treatment of ABRS.

Maxillary sinus puncture and culture in the diagnosis of acute rhinosinusitis: the case for pursuing alternative culture methods

OBJECTIVE

Traditional assessments of the microbial flora associated with acute bacterial rhinosinusitis have relied on maxillary sinus punctures (taps) and culture. These taps are now considered the gold standard for obtaining cultures and are used as the method of identifying bacterial pathogens in antimicrobial trials. Maxillary sinus taps are limited by discomfort to the patients and technical concerns. Because of these factors, the standard of performing taps has limited antibiotic trials and microbial surveillance. Alternatives to maxillary sinus taps have been explored.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a retrospective, systematic review of the literature from 1950 to 2000 of articles comparing culture techniques in the nose and paranasal sinuses for acute bacterial rhinosinusitis.

RESULTS

Nasal cultures have poor correlation to maxillary sinus cultures, whereas there is 60% to 85% concordance between endoscopically guided middle meatal cultures and maxillary sinus cultures. These studies, however, are all limited by small sample sizes and therefore are inadequate to make any concrete recommendations regarding the relative role of endoscopically guided middle meatal cultures as a formal method of pathogen identification in acute bacterial rhinosinusitis.

CONCLUSION

A formal prospective study with sufficient sample size to assess the concordance between the microbial flora of the maxillary sinus punctures and middle meatal cultures in acute rhinosinusitis is recommended.

Resistance among Streptococcus pneumoniae: Implications for drug selection

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important pathogen in many community-acquired respiratory infections in the United States and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Unfortunately, S. pneumoniae is becoming increasingly resistant to a variety of antibiotics. Results of recent surveillance studies in the United States show that the prevalence of penicillin-nonsusceptible S. pneumoniae ranges from 25% to >50%, and rates of macrolide resistance among pneumococci are reported to be as high as 31%. A high prevalence of resistance to other antimicrobial classes is found among penicillin-resistant strains. Newer quinolones (e.g., gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, and moxifloxacin) that have better antipneumococcal activity in vitro are the most active agents and therefore are attractive options for treatment of adults with community-acquired respiratory infections. Efforts should be made to prevent pneumococcal infections in high-risk patients through vaccination.

Pathophysiology of otosclerosis

OBJECTIVE

To review current knowledge of the pathophysiology of otosclerosis and to review hypotheses for the amelioration of this disease.

DATA SOURCES

Review of the literature and experimental observations by the authors.

CONCLUSIONS

Otosclerosis is a localized disease of bone remodeling within the otic capsule of the human temporal bone. Unlike other similar bone diseases, it does not occur outside of the temporal bone. These lesions seem to begin by resorption of stable otic capsule bone in adults, followed by a reparative phase with bone deposition. There are clearly genetic factors that lead to this disease, but measles virus infection and autoimmunity also may play contributing roles. Surgical correction of the conductive hearing loss is highly effective, but nonsurgical intervention has not yet been shown to prevent or slow the disease. Of the factors that may inhibit this process, fluorides, cytokine inhibitors, and bisphosphonates, third-generation bisphosphonates appear to hold the most promise.