Dysbiosis as influencing factor on persisting sinusitis

Patients with persisting sinusitis often experienced diversified diagnostics and in most cases repeated sinus surgery. Conclusive causes are rarely found, therapies turn out to be difficult. The role of the microbiota of the gut as a factor of influence on airway diseases is not much highlighted so far.

Materials and methods:

In our clinic 22 patients with badly treatable sinusitis received determination of the most important gut germs. As aerobic germs E. coli, enterobacteria, pseudomonades, enterococci, staphylococci and streptococci, as anaerobic germs bacteroides, bifidobacteria, lactobacilli and clostridiae and as fungi candida, geotrichum und mold were examined.

Results:

For evaluation, stool specimen from 16 women and 6 men were available. A lack of leading germs like enterococci, E. coli, enterobacteria, bacteroides, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria was shown in all 22 patients (100%), 13 of these presented a lack on more than one species. Fungi like candida and geotrichum were detected in 11 patients (50%).

Previous diagnostics revealed allergy in 5 patients (23%) and salicylate hypersensitivity in 12 (55%), which did not respond well on ASA desensitization.

Summary and conclusion:

The healthy human organism disposes of gut microbiota with a wide variety of species. Microbiota shiftings in our patients with chronic sinusitis hint on disordered gut wall function with impact on the airway mucosa. As mediators, mast cells come into consideration promoting airway infections by increased output of activators like histamine.

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

Dr. med. Guido Mühlmeier

Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Ulm,

Oberer Eselsberg 40, 89081,

Ulm

Email: [e-mail]

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)