title: Tonsil flora in the very young tonsillectomy patient.
abstract: The tonsil flora of 20 children below the age of 4 years undergoing tonsillectomy, and a control group of 18 children were studied using tonsil swabs and core specimens. The study group had a significantly higher culture rate of anaerobic organisms, whereas there was no significant difference between the groups in respect of aerobic pathogens. Since most anaerobic organisms are relatively resistant to the antibiotics usually prescribed for recurring tonsillitis, the use of more appropriate antimicrobial therapy may be helpful in the prevention of early tonsillectomy.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000187:drug effects; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000187:drug effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000382:microbiology*; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents