The Effectiveness of Topical Silver Colloid in Treating Patients With Recalcitrant Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2017-04-08
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Chronic rhinosinusitis without polyposis (CRSsP) is a very common condition that occurs when
the lining of the sinuses becomes persistently irritated. Standard management options include
topical steroids, antibiotics and surgery, but treatment-resistant CRSsP is frequently
encountered. Bacterial biofilms are routinely detected within the nasal mucosa of CRSsP
patients and are now thought to play an important role in the protracted nature of the
disease. Colloidal silver is a widely used naturopathic agent that has recently been shown to
eliminate bacteria, and in particular in vitro sinusitis biofilms, in laboratory studies.
Although silver is currently used in a variety of chronic wound therapies, it has not yet
been formally studied in people with CRSsP. It is our intention with this project to
determine whether colloidal silver is a useful treatment strategy for patients with
refractory CRS.