title: Colonization by Haemophilus influenzae and group A streptococci in recurrent acute tonsillitis and in tonsillar hypertrophy.
abstract: One hundred patients subjected to tonsillectomy because of recurrent acute tonsillitis or tonsillar hypertrophy were evaluated bacteriologically both with ordinary throat culturing and cultures from tonsillar cores. In 26% of the patients H. influenzae was isolated and in 20% beta-haemolytic group A streptococci. Growth of B. catarrhalis was obtained in 10% and group C-, group G streptococci or pneumococci in less than 5% each. None of the group A streptococcal strains proved tolerant to penicillin. A much higher isolation rate of H. influenzae was found in cultures obtained from tonsillar core tissue (23%) than from ordinary throat cultures (2%). This was also the fact, though to a lower extent, regarding group A streptococci. H. influenzae and group A streptococci were isolated as often in patients with tonsillar hypertrophy as in patients suffering from recurrent acute tonsillitis, suggesting a role of these bacteria in both conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stjernquist-Desatnik
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prellner
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schalén
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012008:Recurrence; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000382:microbiology*