Sinusitis

Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses resulting in symptoms. Common signs and symptoms include thick nasal mucus, a plugged nose, and pain in the face. Other signs and symptoms may include fever, headaches, poor sense of smell, sore throat, and cough. The cough is often worse at night. Serious complications are rare. It is defined as acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) if it lasts less than 4 weeks, and as chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) if it lasts for more than 12 weeks. Sinusitis can be caused by infection, allergies, air pollution, or structural problems in the nose. Most cases are caused by a viral infection.

Bacterial biofilms are present on the mucosa of animals with sinuses experimentally infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This is evidence of the presence of bacterial biofilms in an animal model of sinusitis. This model may serve as a means to study the efficacy and safety of pharmacologic and surgical treatments on the disruption and elimination of bacterial biofilms.