Actinomycetes colonization of tonsils: a comparative study between patients with and without recurrent tonsillitis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of tonsillar actinomycetes colonization in patients with and without recurrent tonsillitis and to study the association of this condition with recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 834 patients who had undergone tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis (group A) and for sleep-disordered breathing without a history of recurrent tonsillitis (group B).


RESULTS
The prevalence of tonsillar actinomycetes colonization was higher in patients who had undergone tonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing (44.1 per cent) than in patients who had undergone tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis (33.3 per cent). The prevalence did not differ by sex or age of patient, although the occurrence rate was higher in the adult compared with the paediatric population. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean size of the tonsils removed in the two groups, and actinomycetes colonization did not affect tonsil size. Histopathological analysis of resected tonsils did not show active tissue infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of actinomyces does not indicate active disease. We are of the opinion that, although actinomyces colonization is more prevalent in patients with sleep-disordered breathing, it does not contribute to tonsillar hypertrophy nor to recurrent tonsillitis.
Toh
S-T
ST
Department of Otolaryngology, Singapore General Hospital, Republic of Singapore. songtar74@yahoo.com.sg
Yuen
H-W
HW
Goh
Y-H
YH
D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D044465:White People