Surface vs core-tonsillar aerobic and anaerobic flora in recurrent tonsillitis

Abstract

Specimens from the surface and the core of tonsils from 23 children with recurrent tonsillitis were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. Mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora were obtained from all patients. The predominant anaerobic isolates were Bacterioides sp., Fusobacterium nucleatum, anaerobic gram-positive cocci and Eubacterium sp. The predominant aerobic isolates were .alpha.-hemolytic streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, .beta.-hemolytic streptococci and Haemophilus spp. .beta.-Lactamase production was noted in 49 isolates from 19 patients (83%). Of the aerobic isolates, 70% were recovered in core and surface specimens, compared with 57% of the anaerobic isolates. Of the aerobes, 10% were recovered only in the core, compared with 33% of the anaerobes, and 20% of the aerobes in the surface only, compared with 10% of the anaerobes. This data demonstrates the discrepancies between surface and core cultures in the isolation of anaerobic bacteria and raises the question whether surface cultures can accurately predict the presence of .beta.-lactamase-producing organisms or other pathogens in the recurrently infected tonsil.