Bacterial Sinusitis in the COVID-19 Era: A Reminder for Antibiotic Stewardship

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the trial of novel treatment regimens to improve clinical outcomes. However, the liberal use of antibiotic and steroid therapy during this period may have also contributed to unintended consequences including the development of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. In this report, we discuss the case of a 76-year-old woman treated with an extended course of steroids for COVID-19 infection. The patient then developed MDR bacterial sinusitis requiring multiple courses of antibiotics complicated by medication side effects. Thus, this case highlights the continued importance of discretion in long-term steroid use and antibiotic stewardship.