SINUSITIS DUE TO PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA IN PATIENTS WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION

Community-acquired sinusitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa developed in four patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection who had no local predisposing factors or neutropenia. Two persons were bacteremic. Combination antibiotic therapy and surgical drainage were necessary for adequate treatment. Ciprofloxacin-resistant strains were isolated possibly because of the chronic use of the drug as part of a treatment regimen for disseminated infection with Mycobacterium avium complex. Physicians treating patients with HIV infection must have an increased index of suspicion for P. aeruginosa as a causative agent of sinusitis.