Montgomery News

• Antibiotics are typically used as an initial treatment for sinus infections.

• Potential health risks associated with ongoing antibiotic use include cardiovascular disease and cancer.

• Balloon sinuplasty is an alternative treatment option for chronic sinusitis.

Dr. Manish Khanna | Capitol Breathe Free

Repeatedly treating recurring sinus infections with antibiotics, rather than addressing the root cause, can lead to bacterial resistance, a Washington, D.C., ear, nose and throat specialist said.

Dr. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers has seen it before.

"When patients are using antibiotic after antibiotic, your body gets resistant to it," he told Montgomery News.

Khanna has noticed that bacterial resistance is becoming more common.

"It's becoming more and more of a problem nowadays, because there aren't a lot of new antibiotics out there in the pipeline," he said. "I'm using the same antibiotics essentially I'd used when I started practicing 13 years ago. And my concerns are when patients are using antibiotic after antibiotic, your body gets resistant to it."

All the "bugs and bacteria" that are out there causing infections become more resistant when too much of any antibiotic is used.

"It loses its efficacy," Khanna said.

Overuse of antibiotics is often linked to changes in patients' gut microbiota, which in turn can increase the risk of chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to an American Heart Association. The report notes that overusing antibiotics could also be a risk factor in premature death.

"It becomes a problem for people down the road," Khanna said. "Our GI tract just becomes much more sensitive to these medications with repeated use, and it becomes a problem for us as we get into our older years. We start to deal with more resistant, tougher and more virulent bacteria out there that don't respond to antibiotics, and this is becoming a problem."

The bottom line is that antibiotics should not be too heavily relied upon.

"Antibiotics really have to be used carefully; they can't be used haphazardly," Khanna said.

Of adults in the U.S. who suffer from acute sinusitis -- a sinus infection lasting less than four weeks -- about 90% are prescribed antibiotics, according to WebMD. Chronic sinusitis is a sinus infection that lasts more than 12 weeks. Sinus infection symptoms can include nasal congestion, headaches, coughing, facial pain or discomfort, and nasal drainage.

People who suffer bacterial resistance are at heightened risk of infections when they undergo other medical procedures, such as joint replacements and organ transplants, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetics with bacterial resistance also are a greater risk of infections that can't be treated.

A better way to manage sinus infections is through alternative treatments that don't involve antibiotic overuse. Chronic sinusitis sufferers often do well with treatments such as balloon sinuplasty, typically recommended after other treatments have been ineffective. Balloon sinuplasty is fairly straightforward, reported complications are minimal, and involves no cutting and no removal of bones or tissue.

Balloon sinuplasty also is a good option for patients who don't need anything removed from the sinuses, according to WebMD. The doctor places a thin tube into the nose with a small balloon attached to one end, guides the balloon to the blocked area and inflates it. The procedure helps clear the passageway, allowing sinuses to drain properly, which alleviates congestion and allows the patient to breathe more effectively.

If you're suffering from chronic sinus infections and looking for information on treatment options, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.