Abstract:Objective To investigate the possible effects of intranasal corticosteroids on the focal bacterial colonization in experimental acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis in rabbits. Methods Acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis was induced in 48 rabbits. They were divided into 4 groups: antibiotic group (group A), antibiotic and corticosteroid combination group (group B), corticosteroid group (group C), and control group (group D). Six rabbits in each group were sacrificed to obtain secretions from the maxillary sinuses for bacterial culture after they had been treated for 2 or 4 weeks. Results The differences in bacterial culture ratios in groups A and B compared with groups C and D were significant after treatment for 4 weeks (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in that between groups A and B (P>0.05). Conclusion Intranasal corticosteroids administered with antibiotics do not decrease the effects of antibiotic treatment.