Comments on the use of fluoroquinones in the treatment of acute sinusitis.

The new class of fluoroquinones which are active against Streptococcus pneumoniae have a range of antibacterial activity that is well suited to the treatment of acute sinusitis, Their pharmacokinetics permits their administration in a single daily dose, and their tissue diffusion properties are particularly useful in cases that risk becoming chronic. Although they have a potentially favorable profile for the treatment of this disorder, it would probably be unwise to adopt these antibiotics for routine use in all cases of sinusitis as indiscriminate use could lead to the emergence of resistant strains, and there are also certain pharmacovigilance problems connected with the use of some of these compounds. In this article, it is noted that at the present time there are no official recommendations concerning the administration of new-generation fluoroquinones in the treatment of acute sinusitis: the possible indications for use have therefore been reviewed. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.