The Clinical Times
The Front Page of Medicine

Acute rhinosinusitis / URI antibiotics

What the major U.S. guidelines recommend, with a link to verify each at the source. A quick-reference summary for clinicians, not medical advice.

IDSA / AAFP · 2012

Most acute rhinosinusitis is viral. Reserve antibiotics for: symptoms ≥10 days without improvement, severe onset (fever ≥39°C + purulent), or "double-worsening." First-line amoxicillin-clavulanate when indicated.

Verify at IDSA / AAFP →
CDC · 2024

Antibiotic stewardship: avoid antibiotics for viral URIs and uncomplicated sinusitis.

Verify at CDC →

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