Sinusitis

Subjects must meet all the following criteria at the time of enrollment:
- Age >/= 18 years
- Clinical diagnosis of acute bacterial sinusitis with signs and symptoms present for = 7 days but < 28 days as defined by A), radiographic, and B) clinical criteria, as follows:
 -- Radiographic Criteria: The presence of one or more of the following on a radiographic paranasal sinus film (Waters' view): - Evidence of air-fluid levels - Opacification
 -- Clinical Criteria: The presence of two major symptoms, or the presence of at least one major and one minor symptom as defined in the list below:
 --- Major symptoms: - Purulent anterior or posterior nasal discharge - Unilateral facial pain or malar tenderness
 --- Minor symptoms: - Frontal headache - Fever (oral = 38.0°C/100.4°F, tympanic = 38.5°C/101.2°F, axillary = 37.5°C/99.5°F) - Culture material obtained by sinus puncture; the aspirated specimen sent for Gram stain, quantitative culture and susceptibility testing prior to initiation of antimicrobial therapy

Subjects with one or more of the following criteria will not be eligible for this study:
- History of chronic sinusitis defined as greater than four weeks of continuous symptoms (subjects with recurrent acute sinusitis will be included)
- History of sinus surgery (antral sinus puncture is not considered as a surgery)
- Any symptoms that suggest the subject's current illness is allergic rhinitis (e.g. repetitive sneezing, itchy nose or eyes, provocation by an allergen) and not acute bacterial sinusitis
- Known bacteremia, meningitis or infection infiltrating the tissues neighboring the sinuses