The Microbiology of Tonsils in Khamis Civil Hospital, Saudi Arabia

摘要

Objectives. Tonsillitis is a common infection in all age groups, especially under the age of five. Organisms causing this condition vary from place to place. Our aim is to find out the main causative agents of this condition in our hospital.Patients and Methods. Fifty-two consenting patients who needed tonsillectomy in Khamis civil hospital, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between September 2006 and April 2007, were enrolled for the study. Swabs were taken from their inner surfaces and cultured for anaerobes and aerobes according to standard microbiological techniques.Results. Fifty-two patients, consisting of 30 males and 22 females were enrolled. Their mean age was9.81±6.47. Nearly 65% of patients had positive cultures while 35% were negative. The commonest bacteria isolated wereStaphylococcus aureus(44.1%); and Group BStreptococcus(35.3 %). Two Gram-negative bacteria,Klebsiella pneumoniae, (8.82%), andPseudomonas aeruginosa(2.94 %), were also isolated. No anaerobe was isolated.Conclusion. Gram-positive cocci, consisting ofStaphylococcus aureusand Group BStreptococcus(Streptococcus agalactiae), are the major causes of tonsillitis requiring surgery in our hospital. Antibiotic treatment of this condition should be directed largely against these organisms.