Anaerobic Infection of the Paranasal Sinuses

Heavy growth of anaerobic bacteria in pure culture was obtained from 23 of 83 specimens aseptically removed from chronically infected paranasal sinuses during external frontoethmodectomy or radical antrotomy via the canine fossa. Since these procedures avoid nasal contamination, the data indicate that anaerobic bacteria are an important cause of chronic sinusitis. (N Engl J Med 290:135–137, 1974)