THE WIDE use of penicillin and the favorable results of its intramuscular injection and in certain cases of its topical application indicated that its local use for sinusitis might prove beneficial.
Since December 1944 my colleagues and I have been investigating the effects of penicillin instilled into the maxillary sinus after irrigations in cases both of acute and of chronic infections. Starting with a dilution of 250 units per cubic centimeter, we increased the concentration of penicillin to 500, 1,000, 2,000, 2,500, 5,000 and 10,000 units per cubic centimeter in isotonic solution of sodium chloride without impressive results. At the present time, after irrigation of the antrum and displacement of the isotonic solution of sodium chloride with air, 2 cc. of isotonic solution of sodium chloride containing 10,000 units of penicillin per cubic centimeter is instilled and allowed to remain in the sinus. No evidences of irritation or of sensitivity