The Effectiveness of Topical Silver Colloid in Treating Patients With Recalcitrant Chronic Rhinosinusitis

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2017-04-08
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

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.

• Phase: Phase 1/Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Lawson Health Research Institute

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• A history of twelve or more weeks with at least 2 of the following:

• Nasal congestion

• Mucus discharge from the nose or mucus that drips down the back of the throat

• Facial pain or pressure

• A decrease sense of smell

• A history of at least 2 of the following

• One or more failed functional endoscopic sinus surgeries for CRS

• Failed oral, culture-directed antibiotic therapy for CRS

• Failed oral or topical steroid therapy for CRS

• Failed baby shampoo nasal irrigation therapy for CRS

• Failed topical mupirocin therapy for CRS

• Failed Manuka honey irrigations for CRS

• Failed budesonide irrigations for CRS

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with nasal polyposis

• Patients with existing autoimmune disorders

• Patients with an allergy to silver

• Patients with diabetes

• Patients that have previously used colloidal silver as a naturopathic remedy

• Patients that are pregnant, attempting/planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding

• Patients below the age of 18 years