ANTIBIOTIC OVERUSE IN RHINOSINUSITIS AND ITS ASSOCIATED RISKS - REVIEW

Julia Gawlak; Zofia Tarnawska; Karolina Figiel; Emilia Koziara; Mateusz Gawin; Mateusz Gadzina; Aleksandra Golec; Wojciech Sontag; Mateusz Zawisza; Maciej Krzesimir Kuświk

doi:10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5530

Authors

Julia Gawlak Szpital Specjalistyczny im. Jędrzeja Śniadeckiego w Nowym Sączu, Nowy Sącz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4586-4200
Zofia Tarnawska Samodzielny Publiczny Szpital Kliniczny im. Andrzeja Mielęckiego Śląskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Katowicach, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2265-8089
Karolina Figiel Szpital Powiatowy w Chrzanowie, Chrzanów, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2227-5198
Emilia Koziara Samodzielny Publiczny Zakład Opieki Zdrowotnej MSWiA im. Sierżanta Grzegorza Załogi w Katowicach, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4454-6085
Mateusz Gawin Sosnowiecki Szpital Miejski sp. z o. o. w restrukturyzacji, Sosnowiec, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7409-9586
Mateusz Gadzina Samodzielny Publiczny Zakład Opieki Zdrowotnej MSWiA im. Sierżanta Grzegorza Załogi w Katowicach, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6153-4896
Aleksandra Golec Górnośląskie Centrum Medyczne im. Prof. Leszka Gieca Śląskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Katowicach, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9105-350X
Wojciech Sontag Zagłębiowskie Centrum Onkologii Szpital Specjalistyczny im. Sz. Starkiewicza, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6749-0224
Mateusz Zawisza Górnośląskie Centrum Medyczne im. Prof. Leszka Gieca Śląskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Katowicach, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1981-6640
Maciej Krzesimir Kuświk Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny w Poznaniu, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1925-204X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5530

Keywords:

Rhinosinusitis, Antibiotic Resistance, Antibiotic Overuse, Acute Rhinosinusitis

Abstract

Rhinosinusitis is a common condition, affecting a large number of patients. In the vast majority of cases, the origin is viral. Results of the studies included in this article indicate that only 0.5-2% of all cases have bacterial etiology. Despite these facts, antibiotics are still widely prescribed for this condition. The aim of this study is to examine antibiotic overuse in rhinosinusitis and potential consequences of this practice.

This review paper was based on resources available in the PubMed database; articles were identified using the following keywords: “rhinosinusitis AND antibiotic resistance”, “rhinosinusitis AND antibiotic overuse” and “acute rhinosinusitis.”. All included articles were published between 2020-2026.

Results indicate that overuse of antibiotics in rhinosinusitis is a common practice in many countries. Increasing antibiotic resistance, along with the spread of multi-drug resistant microbes is one of the major consequences. Recent findings highlight the role of the respiratory microbiota and indicate that antibiotic therapy induces long-term changes in the nasal microbiome. Research shows that there are no significant differences in clinical effectiveness between amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate.

In conclusion, antibiotic overuse in rhinosinusitis is a prevalent trend and it poses an important problem of public health. Further research is needed to better understand this issue. The implementation of educational programs and development of clear treatment guidelines may help address this problem.

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