TY - JOUR
T1 - Oropharyngeal flora changes after tonsillectomy
AU - Karaman, Emin
AU - Enver, Ozgun
AU - Alimoglu, Yalcin
AU - Gonullu, Nevriye
AU - Bahar, Hrisi
AU - Torun, Muzeyyen Mamal
AU - Isildak, Huseyin
PY - 2009/11
Y1 - 2009/11
N2 - Objective: We aimed to investigate the effect of tonsillectomy on oropharyngeal flora in children who underwent tonsillectomy for chronic recurrent tonsillitis. Study Design and Setting: A prospective study was performed comprising patients with chronic recurrent tonsillitis who underwent tonsillectomy at the Department of Otolaryngology, Cerrahpasa Medical School. Incisional core biopsies of excised tonsils were also performed. Swabs and core biopsy specimens were transferred and maintained in Stuart's medium and sent to the Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology at Cerrahpasa Medical School for microbiologic evaluation. Subjects and Methods: Oropharyngeal swabs and tonsillar core biopsy specimens from 31 patients operated on for recurrent tonsillitis were cultured. Follow-up oropharyngeal swabs were cultured one month after tonsillectomy. Results: There was no significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative isolation rate of the potentially pathogenic bacteria. Normal aerobic flora did not change significantly. However, the isolation rate of the Neisseria species dropped (P = 0.097) but did not reach statistical significance. Among anaerobes, Bacteroides fragilis, one of the major anaerobic bacteria, dropped significantly (P = 0.007). The Propionibacterium acnes isolation rate increased significantly (P = 0.009). Conclusion: Oropharyngeal anaerobic bacterial flora decreases after tonsillectomy in recurrent tonsillitis patients. The isolation rate for bacteria of the normal flora and potentially pathogenic bacteria does not change. Tonsils with recurrent infections may become a nidus for anaerobic bacteria. In patients with chronic recurrent tonsillitis, tonsillectomy may help change anaerobic bacterial oropharyngeal flora to the normal flora found in healthy individuals.
AB - Objective: We aimed to investigate the effect of tonsillectomy on oropharyngeal flora in children who underwent tonsillectomy for chronic recurrent tonsillitis. Study Design and Setting: A prospective study was performed comprising patients with chronic recurrent tonsillitis who underwent tonsillectomy at the Department of Otolaryngology, Cerrahpasa Medical School. Incisional core biopsies of excised tonsils were also performed. Swabs and core biopsy specimens were transferred and maintained in Stuart's medium and sent to the Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology at Cerrahpasa Medical School for microbiologic evaluation. Subjects and Methods: Oropharyngeal swabs and tonsillar core biopsy specimens from 31 patients operated on for recurrent tonsillitis were cultured. Follow-up oropharyngeal swabs were cultured one month after tonsillectomy. Results: There was no significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative isolation rate of the potentially pathogenic bacteria. Normal aerobic flora did not change significantly. However, the isolation rate of the Neisseria species dropped (P = 0.097) but did not reach statistical significance. Among anaerobes, Bacteroides fragilis, one of the major anaerobic bacteria, dropped significantly (P = 0.007). The Propionibacterium acnes isolation rate increased significantly (P = 0.009). Conclusion: Oropharyngeal anaerobic bacterial flora decreases after tonsillectomy in recurrent tonsillitis patients. The isolation rate for bacteria of the normal flora and potentially pathogenic bacteria does not change. Tonsils with recurrent infections may become a nidus for anaerobic bacteria. In patients with chronic recurrent tonsillitis, tonsillectomy may help change anaerobic bacterial oropharyngeal flora to the normal flora found in healthy individuals.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.otohns.2009.07.010
DO - 10.1016/j.otohns.2009.07.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 19861199
AN - SCOPUS:70350503715
SN - 0194-5998
VL - 141
SP - 609
EP - 613
JO - Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
JF - Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
IS - 5
ER -