What should a nurse practitioner inform a patient who has nasal drainage and sinus pressure for 3 days and requests antibiotics?

The most appropriate response in this scenario is that antibiotics are not indicated unless symptoms worsen. This approach aligns with current clinical guidelines regarding the management of acute sinusitis.

Most cases of sinusitis, especially those that are viral in origin, can resolve on their own without antibiotic intervention. Symptoms such as nasal drainage and sinus pressure lasting for a few days are common and often do not require antibiotic treatment unless the patient experiences a significant worsening of symptoms or if the symptoms persist beyond 10 days, at which point a bacterial infection might be considered.

The rationale behind reserving antibiotics is to prevent unnecessary use and the associated risks, such as antibiotic resistance and adverse effects. Guidelines recommend a watchful waiting approach for uncomplicated acute sinusitis, especially when symptoms are relatively mild.

Other options, such as prescribing corticosteroids to decrease inflammation, ordering imaging studies like a CT scan, or automatically prescribing antibiotics, do not reflect the most evidence-based management of uncomplicated sinusitis. These alternatives would typically be considered only in specific circumstances, such as severe symptoms, recurrent episodes, or signs of complications. Thus, the best course of action is to advise the patient to monitor their symptoms and return if there is no improvement or worsening of their condition.