Some of the most commonly prescribed sinus antibiotics include penicillin, macrolides, flouroquinolones, and cephalosporines. Antibiotics are generally used to treat sinus infections that are caused by bacteria or fungus, and are generally not effective again viral infections. For viral infections, anti-viral medications are usually prescribed. Most of the time, sinus antibiotics are able to kill the bacteria present in the sinuses, but physicians often do not prescribe them until they are sure the patient cannot fight the infection on their own.
In many cases, healthy individuals have immune systems capable of defending against a bacterial infection without resorting to antibiotic treatment. For those who suffer from chronic and repeated infections within their sinuses, it becomes more difficult for the immune system to eliminate bacteria. In these instances, it may be necessary to prescribe sinus antibiotics along with other medications such as decongestants or steroids.
Sinus antibiotics generally fall into two categories, referred to as narrow-spectrum and broad-spectrum. Narrow-spectrum antibiotics such as penicillin and malcrolides typically only work against a small number of bacterium, but broad spectrum antibiotics are designed to fight several different varieties. For this reason, if doctors are unsure of what type of bacteria is causing the infection, they are more likely to prescribe broad-spectrum sinus antibiotics such as flouroquinolones and cephalosporines.
The four main types of sinus antibiotics kill bacteria in different ways. Penicillin works by invading the bacterial cell wall and destroying bacteria growing inside the cell. Malcrolides disable protein production within bacteria, which weakens the organisms enough so that the immune system can kill the infection. Flouroquinolones is a newer type of sinus antibiotic, and it kills bacteria by destroying its ability to create bacterial DNA. Cephalosporines work in much the same way as penicillin, and these drugs are often given to people who are penicillin-allergic.
Normally, sinus infections are caused by lingering colds or flu. These infections are usually not serious and often clear up on their own. Doctors typically do not prescribe antibiotics for these infections because they prefer to limit antibiotic treatment whenever possible. Overuse of antibiotics can sometimes make them less effective.
Chronic sinus infections are sometimes caused by obstruction within the sinuses or malformation of the sinus cavity. Some of these could include overly narrow drainage tubes, presence of nasal polyps, or a common condition called deviated septum. People who suffer from sinus infections due to these conditions frequently have repeated episodes and may require surgery.
