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The objective of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of endoscopically directed middle meatal cultures in the diagnosis of bacterial sinusitis in intensive care unit (ICU) patients in comparison with computed tomographic (CT) scans.

The study was conducted at Alexandria University Hospitals on 51 ICU patients with occult fever and clinical signs suggestive of sinusitis. Sinus CT scans were done for all patients, and Calgi swabs were obtained from the middle meatus bilaterally under endoscopic vision using sterile endoscopes with avoidance of any contamination of the swabs. The results of middle meatal cultures were compared with the results of CT scans.

Radiologic signs of sinusitis were bilateral in 10 patients (19.6%), unilateral in 31 patients (60.8%), and negative in 10 patients (19.6%). Middle meatal swabs yielded positive cultures on both sides in 13 …