Research news: Antibiotics discouraged for many sinus infections

The News:
Antibiotics discouraged for many sinus infections
By Jia-Rui Chong Los Angeles Times
Article Last Updated: 12/05/2007 02:00:30 AM MST
The widespread use of standard antibiotics to treat sinus infections does not help cure patients and may harm them by increasing their resistance to the drugs, according to a new study published today.
The researchers found that the percentage of patients who got well in 10 days was about the same whether they took an antibiotic or a placebo. The study focused on cases likely caused by bacteria.
"With a little bit of patience, the body will usually heal itself," said Dr. Ian Williamson, a family medicine researcher at the University of Southampton in England and lead author of the paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The results showed that patients should be more willing to forgo antibiotics, but they should still check with their doctors when a cold worsens into a sinus infection, he said.

The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the Journal of the American Medical Association.