title: Fine-needle aspiration as a diagnostic tool for recurrent tonsillitis.
abstract: Acute tonsillitis is a common childhood disease, but repeated antibiotic treatment may fail, leading to tonsillectomy. Superficial swab cultures do not sufficiently represent the core bacteria present, but fine-needle aspiration may be a promising diagnostic method. We evaluated 58 patients undergoing tonsillectomy, and took superficial and core swabs, and fine-needle aspirations. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common bacterial pathogen identified, present in 26 out of 50 (52%) positive core cultures, followed by Haemophilus influenza in 13 positive core cultures (26%), and group A beta-haemolytic streptococci in 10 positive core cultures (20%). Fine-needle aspiration detected 33 out of 50 positive core cultures (66%), whereas superficial swab culture detected 18 of 50 (36%); the difference being statistically significant. All pathogens detected by superficial swabs and fine-needle aspiration were detected in core cultures. The sensitivity and specificity of fine-needle aspiration were 66% and 100%, respectively, compared with 36% and 100% for superficial swabs. Fine-needle aspiration is therefore a promising method for detecting core bacteria in patients with recurrent tonsillitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey. enderinci@hotmail.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Inci
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karakullukçu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aygün
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yaşar
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Enver
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yağiz
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000382:microbiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology