Rhinosinusitis (acute)
Emergency referrals
All urgent cases must be discussed with the on call ENT Registrar. Contact through Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (07) 3646 8111 to obtain appropriate prioritisation and treatment.
Urgent cases accepted via phone must be accompanied with a written referral and a copy faxed immediately to the Central Patient Intake Unit: 1300 364 952.
Does your patient wish to be referred?
Minimum referral criteria
Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1
Appointment within 30 days is desirable
- Failed antibiotic treatment/not responding to maximal medical management
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days is desirable
- No category 2 criteria
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days is desirable
- No category 3 criteria
NB referral is not indicated for mild acute rhinosinusitis
If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria
Consider other treatment pathways or an alternative diagnosis.
If you still need to refer your patient:
- Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
- Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service
Other important information for referring practitioners
Not an exhaustive list
Medical management
- Treat any acute bacterial infection appropriately (10 day course of Augmentin duo forte)
- 5 days only of BD nasal decongestant spray e.g. oxymetazoline at the start of the course
- 3 months of:
- oral roxithromycin 300mg daily
- intra nasal steroid spray e.g. mometasone BD for 2 weeks, then nocte thereafter
- intra nasal saline rinse/irrigation (not spray) BD-TDS
- If rhinorrhoea is the predominant symptom add either atrovent spray or second generation antihistamine
- Consider short course of oral corticosteroid therapy
- If symptoms persist at close of treatment, consider CT para nasal sinuses
- Analgesia
- Manage environmental factors:
- co-existing allergies
- discuss contribution of smoking
- Discuss role of environmental and household pollutants (wood/coal smoke, incense, perfumes, chlorine)
Referral requirements
A referral may be rejected without the following information.
Send referral
Hotline: 1300 364 938
Fax: 1300 364 952
Electronic: eReferral system
Mail: Metro North Central Patient Intake
Aspley Community Centre
776 Zillmere Road
ASPLEY QLD 4034
Health pathways
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For login details email:
healthpathways
Login to Brisbane North Health Pathways:
brisbanenorth.