COMPARISION OF TONSILLAR SURFACE AND CORE CULTURES WITH BACTEREMIA SECONDARY TO TONSILLECTOMY
1İzzet Baysal Tıp Fakültesi, KBB Anabilim Dalı, Bolu, Türkiye2İzzet Baysal Tıp Fakültesi, Enfeksiyon Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, Bolu, Türkiye Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the duration and spectrum of bacteremia and its relation with acute phase reactants and fever in patients who underwent tonsillectomy.
Study Design: A prospective clinical trial
Patients and Methods: Thirty one patients (15 male, 16 female) who underwent tonsillectomy were included. Swab cultures from surface and core of tonsils were performed. All patients underwent venous blood sampling preoperatively and 1, 3 , 5 hours after the operation for blood cultures. Preoperative and postoperative erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C Reactive Protein levels were compared. Results of bacteriological research and bacteremia were investigated.
Results: Post-tonsillectomy bacteremia was determined only in three patients. In 17 (54.8%) patients various microorganisms were isolated from cultures of tonsil core. There was no relation between the microorganisms which were isolated from tonsil core or tonsil surface and the bacteremia in three patients. The preoperative and postoperative difference between the levels of acute phase reactants was not found to be significant in our study group.
Conclusion: The transient pattern and low ratios of bacteremia after tonsillectomy indicates that routine antibiotic use is unnecessary and may be used only in high risk patients.
Keywords : Tonsillectomy, bacteremia, acute phase reactants, microbiology