Bacteriology of the Maxillary Sinus of Rhesus Monkeys

Abstract

Quantitative cultures of transantral aspirates of the maxillary sinuses of rhesus monkeys were performed to determine whether the sinuses have a normal bacterial flora. Of 13 sinus aspirate cultures 11 (85%) were sterile. The two positive sinus aspirate cultures had extremely low colony counts of the same bacteria present on the nasal mucosa prior to the sinus puncture. The maxillary sinuses of rhesus monkeys are sterile.