[Capnocytophaga sputigena in sinusitis].

The genus Capnocytophaga was reported in the literature for the first time in 1979. Capnocytophaga are fusiform gram-negative, slowly growing bacteria that require a high pCO2. They belong to the normal buccal flora and they are reported as pathogens in infections of the periodontal region with progressive periodontitis and in septicaemia in patients with immunodeficiencies and buccal ulcerations. The present paper is the first to report Capnocytophaga sputigena as a pathogen in sinusitis. The patient presented a chronic maxillary sinusitis as a complication of a complicated tooth-extraction. The proof for pathogenicity was demonstrated by the presence of Capnocytophaga in the polymorphonucleocytes of the sinusal secretions and by the fact that the bacteria were not easily eradicated despite multiple sinusal irrigations.