The role of atypical bacteria in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Abstract

This study examines the presence of atypical bacteria in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) by utilizing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Eleven patients with CRS were prospectively enrolled. DNA was isolated from the mucosa samples and subjected to PCR using oligonucleotides specific for identification of atypical bacteria including: Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Legionella pneumophila. Also, routine aerobic and anerobic cultures were processed. Sinus tissue samples from 6 fresh corpses without evident sinus disease served as controls. No atypical bacteria were identified in the 11 patient samples by PCR. One of 6 cadaver controls was positive by PCR for M pneumoniae. The most common organism obtained from routine culture was coagulase negative staphylococci. Using sensitive PCR techniques, CRS mucosa did not reveal DNA from M pneumoniae, C pneumoniae, or L pneumophila. Atypical bacteria were not identified in patients with CRS despite highly effective PCR methods and they may not play a significant role in the cause of CRS.