Antibiotics for Pediatric Acute Bacterial Sinusitis
Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS), defined as a bacterial infection of the nasal cavity and one or more sinuses persisting for less than 4 weeks, is a common diagnostic consideration in pediatric care. Nearly 5 million US children are prescribed antibiotics for ABRS annually in ambulatory settings. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)1 and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)2 published guidelines for management of ABRS in 2012 and 2013, respectively. However, these guidelines are more than 10 years old and they differ in their recommendations for first-line antibiotic therapy. The IDSA recommends amoxicillin-clavulanate and the AAP recommends amoxicillin or amoxicillin-clavulanate. This article reviews antibiotic selection for ABRS, considering evidence published since 2013.