Thushara Ushakumari Bhuvanendran1, Beena V.G.2
BACKGROUND
Pharyngotonsillitis is defined as a spectrum of conditions ranging from
inflammation primarily confined to the tonsils to pharyngitis implying generalized
inflammation of the whole of pharynx. Children are more prone to get several
episodes of pharyngotonsillitis per year during their school years. Pharyngitis
caused by Streptococcus pyogenes can cause two non-suppurative complications,
acute rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis which is responsible for
significant morbidity and mortality. The present study was conducted to identify
the prevalence of bacterial pathogens causing pharyngotonsillitis and to study their
antibiotic sensitivity pattern that would indicate the optimum line of treatment.
METHOD
A total of 200 children at the age group of 2 - 12 years who had clinical features
of pharyngotonsillitis according to the inclusion criteria were recruited for this
study over a period of one year. With the help of a disposable wooden spatula,
pus from the pharyngo tonsillar region was collected and processed. Predominant
isolates obtained were identified and antibiotic sensitivity was done.
RESULTS
Bacteria was isolated from 70 samples. Pharyngotonsillitis was found most
prevalent at the age group of 8 – 10 years. Intake of cold food stuffs and passive
smoking at home was found to have statistically significant association as risk
factor for pharyngotonsillitis. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common
organism isolated followed by Streptococcus pyogenes. The other organisms
isolated were group G and C streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia sub species (spp) aerogenes.
CONCLUSIONS
Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated, followed by
Streptococcus pyogenes. All the isolates of beta haemolytic streptococci were
found to be sensitive to penicillin. There was increased incidence of resistance to
macrolides among the gram-positive isolates except Streptococcus pneumoniae
and it may be due to the wide spread use of macrolides injudiciously. All the
bacterial pharyngotonsillitis cases were cured with the antibiotic given according
to the sensitivity except one case.
