The authors describe theire experience with the use of cefixime, an oral cephalosporin of the third generation in relapsing and protracted sinusitis. The group of patients comprised 17 adults and five children the majority of which was treated with several antibiotics before cefixime administration. The pathogenetic microbial agent was found only in four patients: Klebsiella oxytoca, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. In the remainder the cultivation form the punctate was negative or contained a so-called physiological flora - most frequently Str. viridans. In none of the cases Staphylococcus aureus was detected as the etiological agent, which is resistant to cefixime. The mean period of cefixim treatment was eight days, treatment was successful in 100%. In case of putrid empyemas of the maxillary sinuses and odontogenic sinusitis a combination of cefixim with general and local treatment with metronidazole proved very useful. The assembled findings make it possible to recommend cefixim as an effective antibiotic for the treatment of refractory or relapsing sinusitis caused by sensitive microorganisms.

        Key words: cefixim, protracted and relapsing sinusitis, bacteriological findings.