Abstract
Objective: Irrigation devices used by patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis become contaminated after use. The purpose of this study was to see whether such devices can also become contaminated when used by patients with allergic rhinitis (AR).
Method: Ten AR patients with no clinical or endoscopic evidence of active sinonasal infection were given a sinus irrigation system and instructed on its proper use, cleaning, and storage. Bottles were analyzed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks for microbial growth.
Results: Irrigation devices (14/20) from all individuals in this study grew bacteria commonly in the nozzles. Twenty-five bacterial isolates consisting of 14 different species were cultured and identified with most common organisms being bacilli and staphylococcus. No fungal organisms were cultured using the above techniques. In addition no correlation was apparent between the length of bottle use and the degree of contamination. During the study period, no patient developed acute sinus infections.
Conclusion: Bacterial contamination of the irrigation system occurs commonly, even in uninfected AR patients; however, no evidence exists linking this to sinus cross-infection.
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