The effects of tonsillectomy on the throat microflora: a comparative study of the pre and post operative throat swabs

Abstract EN

The oral cavity and the throat have a rich and varied microbial flora.

In addition to aerobes, many anaerobes and protozoa can also frequently be found.

The predominant bacteria are alpha haemolytic streptococci.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of tonsillectomy on bacterial colonization of the throat.

Patients and Methods: Throat swabs of 100 chronic tonsillitis cases were compared to a similar number of control group.

Swabs were collected from the patients in two instances i.e pre and postoperative.

Throat swab were cultivated aerobically and anaerobically on different types of media.

Results: The tonsillar infections were more prevelant in children than adults, with no statistically significant difference between males and females.

Str.viridans was the most common aerobic isolate in both groups and this result is statistically significant.

Mean while streptococcus pyogenes is significantly the predominant pathogenic isolate.

In comparison of the number of isolated aerobic bacteria from preoperatiove patients and control group showed numbers of throat flora streptococci, streptococcus viridans and streptococcus salivarius, are higher in control group than the patients, except for Str.mitis.

The number of isolated anaerobic bacteria from patients and control group, there is a statistically significant difference at (p < 0.05) regarding Actinomyces spp.

The comparison of aerobic bacteria isolated pre and post tonsillectomy from patients group (44 patients), all types of Streptococci spp.

showed a significant reduction postoperativelly.

Comparison of anaerobic bacteria isolated pre and post tonsillectomy, reveals a relative decrease in number of anaerobic bacteria after tonsillectomy.

Conclusion: Tonsillectomy has clear effects on the throat flora.

It changes the micro- flora of the throat through the reduction of most aerobic bacteria and decreasing the anaerobic organisms.

We recommend the culture of throat swab as a reliable test for the diagnosis of pathogens in the tonsil surface