Selected bacterial recovery in Trinidadian children with chronic tonsillar disease.
Pharyngotonsillitis in children is widely treated with antibiotics.


OBJECTIVE
To examine tonsil surface and core microflora following elective adenotonsillectomy in children.


METHODS
Tonsils of 102 Trinidadian children were prospectively examined for surface and core bacteriological culture and identification between 2005-2006.


RESULTS
Tonsils (360) yielded 800 isolates of Streptococcus spp. (51.3%), Staphylococcus spp. (42.3%) and Gram-negative genera (6.4%). Surface and core recovery of staphylococci and streptococci were similar (p>0.05). More (p<0.001) surfaces (82.2%) than cores (63.3%) grew Streptococcus spp.; alpha-haemolytic Streptococcus prevalence was higher (p<0.001) than ss-haemolytic Streptococcus on surfaces (74.4% vs. 18.6%) than cores (58.9% vs. 13.7%). Surfaces and cores were not concordant for streptococci (p<0.0004) and alpha-haemolytic Streptococcus (p<0.007). Surface and core ss-haemolytic Streptococcus yield was higher (p<0.05) in 6-16 than 1-5 year olds (31% and 23.8% vs 12.5% and 8%). S. pyogenes surface and core prevalence was (84.6% vs 70%) and (50.0% vs 25.0%) in older and younger children respectively. Klebsiella spp. (6.6 %, 2.2%), Proteus (4.4%, 4.4%) and Pseudomonas (4.4 %, 1.1%) grew on surfaces and cores respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Tonsil surfaces yield higher surface than core carriage for streptococci overall and for alpha haemolytic streptococci. Older children grow more beta-haemolytic streptococci and are high colonizers of S. pyogenes. Studies probing the mechanisms of streptococcal adhesions in Trinidadian children are suggested.
Pereira
Lexley Maureen Pinto
LMP
Dr (Professor of Pharmacology). Electronic address: lexleyp@gmail.com.
Juman
Solaiman
S
Dr (Lecturer in Surgery).
Bekele
Isaac
I
Dr (Senior Lecturer, Biometrics and Head, Department of Food Production).
Seepersadsingh
Nadira
N
Miss (Research Fellow).
Adesiyun
Abiodun A
AA
Dr (Professor of Veterinary Public Health and Director, School of Veterinary Medicine).
D000233:Adenoidectomy; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago