Surface versus core aerobic and anaerobic tonsillar flora in recurrent tonsillitis

ABSTRACT

Routine throat swabs taken from the surface of the tonsils do not always predict the real tonsillar flora since the pathogens are usually located in the core of the tonsil. The tonsil surface and core cultures of 52 tonsillectomy cases were studied under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus was found to be the most common pathogen isolated in recurrent tonsillitis, and it was isolated more in the core cultures than the surface cultures. Beta-hemolytic streptococcus isolation was found to increase in anaerobic incubation. All of the beta-hemolytic streptococcus strains were sensitive to penicillin. In 58.3% of the isolated Staphylococcus aureus strains beta-lactamare activity was determined