Systematic review of antimicrobial therapy in patients with acute rhinosinusitis

Over 70% of patients with acute rhinosinusitis are improved after 7 days, with or without antimicrobial therapy. About 7 patients must be treated to achieve one additional positive outcome at 7 to 12 days above and beyond spontaneous resolution. Generalizability of results is limited because nearly all trials involved a primary care setting and some trials excluded patients with severe illness.