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2025 Magnet® Redesignation Feedback

The Magnet® designation for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center is the pre-eminent recognition for hospital systems in the United States.

ChristianaCare Health System was designated as a Magnet organization in 2010, 2015, and 2020 by the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® and are now applying for redesignation.

We invite patients, family members, staff, and other interested parties to provide feedback via email or direct mail. For more information, please click here.

Antibiotic Use

Sinusitis

Antibiotics and sinusitis

Antibiotics Symptoms Viral or Bacterial Sinusitis Seeking Care Prevention Resources

Antibiotics and Sinusitis

Sinuses are hollow spaces in your skull around the eyes and nose. Sinusitis happens when the lining inside the nose and sinuses gets irritated and swells, causing you to have a stuffy or blocked nose, or drainage from the nose or back of the throat. Sinusitis can occur when the fluid is trapped, which can allow germs to grow, sometimes leading to a sinus infection.

Most sinus infections are caused by viruses, so antibiotics won’t help you feel better any sooner, because antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. But sometimes a bacterial infection can cause sinusitis. Unfortunately, it is difficult to tell at first whether the sinusitis is caused by a bacteria that needs antibiotics, but luckily only about 1 out of 10 cases of sinusitis is caused by bacteria.

When we use antibiotics when they are not needed, they may not work when we do need them. This is because each time you take antibiotics, you are more likely to have some bacteria that survive and aren't killed by the medicine. Bacteria that don't die can change and become even harder to kill, making your next infection harder to treat. These tougher bacteria can also spread to family members, children, and coworkers. While there are other antibiotics that can be used, these antibiotics often don’t work as well and usually cost more. Also, antibiotics can cause allergic reactions, diarrhea, and other side effects – so it’s best only to use them when you really need them.

Symptoms

You might have:

Headache
Congested or stuffy nose
Runny nose
Pain or pressure in your face in the areas where your sinuses are located (your forehead and across the front of your face, next to your nose)
Postnasal drip (mucus that runs down the back of your throat)
Sore throat
Fever
Coughing

Is it Viral or Bacterial Sinusitis?

Your healthcare provider can often tell whether your sinusitis is caused by a virus, the most common type of sinus infection, or by bacteria.

If symptoms are present for less than 10 days and they’re not getting worse, the infection is likely viral. Antibiotics are not
If symptoms last longer than 10 days and get worse, the infection could be bacterial. Other signs of a bacterial infection include:
- Severe symptoms from day one, such as a high fever, an abundance of discharge from the nose, or severe facial pain for three to four days in a row
- Symptoms that last for up to six days, after which you feel temporarily better but then get a new fever, headache, or increased nasal discharge

Getting Help for Sinusitis

If you have a viral sinus infection, ask your pharmacist about over-the-counter medicine for your symptoms, such as congestion, cough, and headache.

Be sure to tell the pharmacist about any prescription medicines that you’re already taking or any medical conditions. Be careful when you use certain nasal drops, which can make your symptoms worse when you stop taking them, if you take them longer than directed.

You can also:

Use warm compresses over the nose and forehead to relieve sinus pressure
Use a saline nasal spray
Breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water or in the shower

See your healthcare provider if:

You have a fever of 100.4°F or higher, or that lasts longer than 3-4 days
Your symptoms last longer than 10 days without getting better, or continue to get worse
Over-the-counter medications don’t help you feel better
You’ve had multiple sinus infections in the past year
Your symptoms get worse, after improving

Prevention

Wash your hands often.
Keep up to date with vaccines.
Don’t smoke.
Avoid secondhand smoke, chemicals, dust, and air pollution.
Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, so you don’t infect others.
Use a clean humidifier to combat dry air in the home caused by heating and air conditioning.