Clinicomycological spectrum of fungal rhino-sinusitis from university hospital, North India

Abstract

Background: Fungal infection of the paranasal sinuses is an increasingely recognized entity, both in normal and immunocompromised individuals. Various agents including bacteria, viruses and fungi have been introduced as aetiological origins of the disease. Fungi have been reported as a common cause of sinusitis and among them Aspergillus species are the usual. The objective of this study was to explore the frequency of different fungi isolated by in vitro culture from biopsy samples obtained from operated rhinosinusitis patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 47 patients clinically diagnosed with sinusitis and who underwent sinonasal surgery performed between 2008-2011 in the University hospital were included in this study. Results: Fungal cultures were positive in 10 (21.3%) of 47 patients from surgical specimen. Aspergillus spp, Fusarium, Rhizopus, Candida albicans and Bipolaris species were isolated in these cases. Conclusion: The overall frequency of fungal sinusitis in studied population was 21.3%. Early diagnosis and combination therapy of surgery and antifungal therapy is needed. Although culture helps in definite diagnosis and identification, direct microscopic detection (10% KOH) of fungal structures in biopsies permits a rapid presumptive diagnosis.