Baltimore City Wire

• Antibiotics are typically used as an initial treatment for sinus infections.

• Potential health risks associated with ongoing antibiotic use include cardiovascular disease and cancer.

• Balloon sinuplasty is an alternative treatment option for chronic sinusitis.

Dr. Jamie Oberman | Frederick Breathe Free

Repeatedly treating recurring sinus infections with antibiotics, rather than getting at the root cause, can lead to bacterial resistance, Dr. Jamie Oberman of the Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Baltimore City Wire.

The path to antibiotic resistance is almost predictable.

"The more infections you have, the more antibiotics that are prescribed, the more bacterial resistance you have," Oberman said. "So we're to the point where the antibiotics no longer work. You're developing what's called bacterial resistance. Bacteria are smart microbes that are able to develop and adapt to what technology and medicine has developed, including antibiotics, and they develop the means to become resistant to those antibiotics."

Overuse of antibiotics that leads to antibiotic resistance can then lead to other problems.

"So when you really need an antibiotic, for a serious infection, it might not work anymore," Oberman said.

Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers is located in the Patriot Professional Center on Thomas Johnson Drive in Frederick. Oberman is American Board of Otolaryngology-certified and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Of adults in the U.S. who suffer from acute sinusitis -- a sinus infection lasting less than four weeks -- about 90% are prescribed antibiotics, according to WebMD. Chronic sinusitis is a sinus infection that lasts more than 12 weeks. Sinus infection symptoms can include nasal congestion, headaches, coughing, facial pain or discomfort, and nasal drainage.

Overuse of antibiotics is often linked to changes in the patient's gut microbiota, which in turn can increase risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to the American Heart Association. The report notes that overusing antibiotics could also be a risk factor in premature death.

People who suffer bacterial resistance are at heightened risk for infections when they undergo other medical procedures, such as joint replacements and organ transplants, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetics with bacterial resistance also are a greater risk of infections that can't be treated.

A better way to manage sinus infections is through alternative treatments that don't involve antibiotics. Chronic sinusitis sufferers often do well with treatments such as balloon sinuplasty, typically recommended after other treatments have been ineffective. Balloon sinuplasty is fairly straightforward, reported complications are minimal, and it involves no cutting and no removal of bones or tissue.

Balloon sinuplasty also is a good option for patients who don't need anything removed from the sinuses, according to WebMD. The doctor places a thin tube into the nose with a small balloon attached to one end, guides the balloon to the blocked area and inflates it. The procedure helps clear the passageway, allowing sinuses to drain properly, which alleviates congestion and allows the patient to breathe more effectively.

If you're suffering from recurring sinus infections and would like some information on treatment options, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.