Spectrum: Local Antimicrobial Stewardship, for Eastern Health

Acute Sinusitis Duration of Therapy

Recommended Duration

5 days

Shortest Duration

Minimum duration studied without evidence of reduced efficacy

3 days

Using azithromycin - see below

Additional Notes

  • The duration of 5 days is based on a meta-analysis of 12 RCTs, using multiple different classes of antibiotics

  • The 3 day course was performed with Azithromycin, and as such represents a longer exposure to antibiotics than the treatment duration itself suggests

  • Adapted from AMMI Canada Position Statement on the Appropriate Duration of Antimicrobial Therapy (2018)

More Information

References
  1. Falgas M, Karageorgopoulos D, Grammatikos et al., Effectiveness and safety of short vs. long duration of antibiotic therapy for acute bacterial sinusitis: a meta-analysis of randomized trials. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 67(2):161-71. 2008