Effect of Inferior Turbinate Radiofrequency Procedure on Nasal Flora: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Background

Inferior turbinate hypertrophy is a common cause of chronic nasal obstruction, and radiofrequency treatment has become an effective minimally invasive option for management. However, the impact of this procedure on nasal bacterial flora and the need for postoperative antibiotics remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the effect of inferior turbinate radiofrequency treatment on the nasal cavity bacterial flora and the need for postoperative antibiotics.

Methods

Forty-five voluntary patients aged 18 to 65, who were referred to the Otorhinolaryngology clinic between 11/2023 and 02/2024 due to chronic nasal obstruction, were included in the study. The patients had noninfective inferior turbinate hypertrophy, were recommended for inferior turbinate radiofrequency treatment, and agreed to undergo the procedure. Before and one month after the procedure, nasal swabs were taken from the patients and sent to the Clinical Microbiology Department for culture. The microorganisms isolated from both swabs were compared. The statistical analysis of the study data was conducted using SPSS 26.0 software.

Results

No significant difference was observed in the total bacterial colonization count after the radiofrequency procedure compared to before the procedure (p = .44). There was no significant difference in the total count of normal flora elements and potentially pathogenic bacteria between the pre and post procedure (p = .10, p = .23). Among the isolated normal flora microorganisms, no significant difference was observed in the bacterial colonization count for all species except coagulase-negative staphylococci, in which a significant decrease was detected (p > .05, p = .004).

Conclusion

The data from this study suggest that inferior turbinate radiofrequency treatment does not significantly affect nasal flora bacterial colonization and does not cause a significant increase in the number and variety of pathogenic bacteria, thereby indicating that postoperative antibiotic therapy is not necessary. However, further studies with a larger sample size are required.