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Immunoglobulin- and complement-coated bacteria in pus from peritonsillar abscesses.

Fifty-five samples of pus were collected from 51 acute, non-perforated, two spontaneously ruptured and two recurrent peritonsillar abscesses (35 males and 18 females; median age 18 years) and analysed regarding (i) aerobic and anaerobic bacteria (standard culturing), (ii) morphology of bacteria and inflammatory cells (direct microscopy of acridine orange-stained material), and (iii) the percentage of bacteria coated with immunoglobulins IgG, secretory IgA (SIgA) and IgM and complement cleavage product C3b (immunofluorescence assay). Seventy-one per cent of the abscesses harboured a mixed bacterial flora of various aerobes and anaerobes. In none of the cases with a single bacterial species (27 per cent) could immunoglobulin- or complement-coated bacteria be found. In abscesses with a mixed flora, 18 per cent harboured IgG-coated, 15 per cent SIgA-coated, five per cent IgM-coated and five per cent C3b-coated bacteria, respectively. All pus samples contained inflammatory cells in abundance but they were mostly deformed and only occasionally could intracellular bacteria be recognized. Insufficient immunoglobulin-coating of bacteria might be an important aetiopathogenic factor in the development of a peritonsillar abscess. Bactericide in the abscesses is accomplished chiefly by protective mechanisms not dependent on antigen recognition by antibodies.

Adolescent↗

Surgical or medical treatment of questionable peritonsillar abscess? The use of B-mode ultrasonography.

A prospective study was carried out to evaluate the sensitivity of sonography in the diagnosis of peritonsillar abscesses (quinsy). From 1986 to 1991 all cases of clinically doubtful peritonsillitis were subjected to B-Mode ultrasonography of the tonsils before tonsillectomy. 118 patients were examined. Sensitivity of the method in cases of clinically uncertain peritonsillar abscesses was 87%. The predictive value of the method was calculated to be 0.89; however only five false positive cases ("abscess" in ultrasound but no pus during surgery) were found. We therefore suggest that all patients suffering from questionable peritonsillitis should be examined by ultrasound. If abscess formation is suspected, surgical intervention is indicated. In all other cases I.V. antibiotics should be administered and control sonography should be carried out.

Adolescent↗

Peritonsillar abscess. A prospective evaluation of outpatient management by needle aspiration.

Outpatient management of peritonsillar abscess by needle aspiration and oral antibiotic therapy was evaluated for its effectiveness in providing rapid symptom relief and cure and in preventing recurrence. Between 1984 and 1987, 124 patients with peritonsillar infection were treated in our department, and 115 were included in this prospective study. Needle aspiration was not carried out in 11 patients because of young age, noncooperation, or severe trismus. The other 104 patients underwent permucosal aspiration and were followed up for periods of four months to three years. Of these, findings of aspiration were positive in 75 (72%). Only nine (12%) of the 75 patients with positive aspirates had to be hospitalized. In 64 (85%) of the 75 patients, the abscess resolved without further therapy. Aspiration of pus, along with oral administration of antibiotics, thus appears to be a reasonable alternative to incision and drainage or "hot" tonsillectomy in patients with peritonsillar abscess. This conservative approach obviates the need for hospital admission in most patients, thus enabling a significant cost reduction.

Adolescent↗

The indication for tonsillectomy in children following peritonsillar abscess.

The clinical course of 19 consecutive children treated for peritonsillar abscess (PTA), in the Chaim Sheba Medical Center, between 1988-1992 was retrospectively reviewed. The abscess was drained through an incision (12 children) and by needle aspiration (7 children), under local (11 children) or general (8 children) anesthesia. One child suffered from recurrent bouts of tonsillitis after the abscess resolved and eventually underwent tonsillectomy. Two others, with a pre-PTA history of recurrent tonsillitis (T+) underwent interval tonsillectomy. Recurrent PTA did not develop in any of the 16 non-operated children. The involvement of mainly older children can explain both the low rate of the pre-PTA history of T+ and the number of children whose abscess could be drained under local anesthesia. Tonsillectomy should be indicated in cases of recurrent PTA or in children with a pre-PTA history of T+. The need for general anesthesia for draining the abscess in young children does not seem, in itself, to warrant a routine hot tonsillectomy.

Adolescent↗

Neglected peritonsillar abscess resulting in necrotizing soft tissue infection of the neck and chest wall.

Necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) of the neck and chest wall resulting from neglected peritonsillar abscess is a relatively rare but highly lethal surgical condition which has received little attention in the literature. The case of a 54-year-old male patient affected by this unusual infection is reported. Our recent experience and literature data suggest that NSTI resulting from peritonsillar abscess is rapidly spreading and life threatening. High index of suspicion, early diagnosis, broad-spectrum antibiotics and aggressive surgical debridement are essential to its successful treatment.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Fatal myocarditis associated with peritonsillar abscess.

A case report of a patient with tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscess, who subsequently developed fatal myocarditis, is presented. The clinical course and pathological findings are outlined. The rare association of tonsillitis and pharyngitis with non-rheumatic, non-diphtheritic, non-fatal myocarditis was recognized and reported in the pre and early antibiotic era. The present reported case is only the second recent description of fatal myocarditis associated with tonsillitis, and the first ever reported in the English Otolaryngologic literature.

Acute Disease↗

Intrathoracic infections with bacteraemia due to Eikenella corrodens as a complication of peritonsillar abscesses: report of a case and review of the literature.

A 52-year-old man, without previous disease, presented with dysphagia, dyspnoea, high fever and sore throat after peritonsillar abscesses drainage. Physical and complementary examinations were consistent with pericarditis, mediastinitis, pneumonia and pleuritis. Blood cultures grew Eikenella corrodens resistant to clindamycin and amikacin. We emphasize the pathogenic potential of Eikenella corrodens. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of this organism as a pathogen in intrathoracic infections after peritonsillar abscesses drainage.

Bacteremia↗

Peritonsillar abscess appearance on intra-oral ultrasonography.

The ultrasound appearances of peritonsillar abscesses (PTA) in 15 patients with clinically suspected peritonsillar infection were assessed using intra-oral sonography and computed tomography (CT). The ultrasonic appearances of an isoechoic rim with a hypoechoic centre were seen in the majority of cases, but a homogeneous isoechoic pattern was also recognized. The different ultrasonic appearances did not correlate with the number of symptomatic days. A central hypoechoic area with a surrounding isoechoic rim pattern was less likely if the volume of pus relative to the whole abscess was less than 10% on CT. Although the percentage of necrosis within the abscesses increased with time, the homogeneous isoechoic appearing abscesses, with less than 10% necrosis, did not fit in temporally and based on our findings it was not possible to predict the ultrasound appearances according to the duration of symptoms.

Adolescent↗

Peritonsillar abscess: risk of disease in the remaining tonsil after unilateral tonsillectomy à chaud.

The occurrence of disease in the remaining tonsil after unilateral tonsillectomy à chaud in the treatment of peritonsillar abscess, was studied in 536 patients. No patient had a history of previous severe tonsillitis at the time of the unilateral tonsillectomy, 6.1 per cent of the patients were readmitted for surgery of the remaining tonsil during the follow-up period. Ninety-seven per cent of these patients were younger than 30 years of age. Previous investigations have shown increasing frequency by age of pharyngitis after bilateral tonsillectomy. We suggest bilateral tonsillectomy in all cases of patients younger than 30 years old who suffer from peritonsillar abscess irrespective of previous tonsillar disease. Patients older than 30 should be treated with unilateral ablation, unless there is a clear indication for bilateral tonsillectomy.

Adolescent↗

[Peritonsillar abscess. Occurrence of disease requiring surgery in the remaining tonsil after unilateral tonsillectomy à chaud].

The occurrence of disease requiring surgery of the remaining tonsil after unilateral tonsillectomy à chaud in the treatment of peritonsillar abscess was studied in 536 patients. None of the patients histories of previous severe tonsillitis at the time of the unilateral had tonsillectomy. 9.3% of the patients under 30 years of age were readmitted for surgery on the remaining tonsil during the follow up period. Only 0.5% of the patients over 30 years were readmitted. Previous investigations have shown increasing frequency of pharyngitis after bilateral tonsillectomy. The present authors suggest bilateral tonsillectomy in all patients under 30 years of age who suffer from peritonsillar abscess irrespectively of previous tonsillar disease. In patients over 30 years, unilateral ablation is recommended unless clear indication for bilateral tonsillectomy are present.

Adolescent↗

Aspiration of peritonsillar abscess in severe trismus.

We present a novel method of aspirating a peritonsillar abscess in a patient with severe trismus. In our experience, this method is efficient, allows good access to the peritonsillar area and facilitates rapid resolution of the trismus before definitive drainage can be performed.

Humans↗

The role of computed tomography in the management of peritonsillar abscess.

Twenty-four patients who fulfilled the clinical criteria for peritonsillar abscess (PTA) were randomized into two groups over a 6-month period. Group A (n = 13) underwent CT with contrast, whereas group B (n = 11) was managed without radiologic investigation. In group A, CT with contrast enabled differentiation of PTA from peritonsillar cellulitis in all 13 cases (100%) and demonstrated abscesses in 11 patients (85%), thereby allowing drainage at first attempt. Two patients with peritonsillar cellulitis were successfully managed with antibiotics only. In group B, all patients underwent needle aspiration. In seven patients (64%), pus was found after needle aspiration at first attempt and in one patient after needle aspirations at two locations. In three patients (27%), no pus was found after needle aspirations at three different locations. We conclude that CT enhances diagnostic accuracy, obviating unnecessary drainage procedures, and reduces patient morbidity.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Acute peritonsillar abscess caused by Arcanobacterium haemolyticum.

A patient is reported with a peritonsillar abscess yielding Arcanobacterium haemolyticum. This appears to be only the fifth such case described in the medical literature and the first from Europe. The organism has been reported as an occasional cause of tonsillopharyngitis with rash, resembling infection with Streptococcus pyogenes but often unresponsive to penicillin therapy. A. haemolyticum easily passes unrecognized in bacteriological cultures as a result of its slow growth, coryneform appearance in the Gram's stain and weak haemolytic activity on conventional laboratory media.

Acute Disease↗

Bacteriologic findings in peritonsillar abscesses in young adults.

Aspirated pus samples from 124 patients with peritonsillar abscess were cultured quantitatively for aerobes and anaerobes. A total of 98% of the samples yielded bacteria. Of the 550 isolates obtained (mean, 4.4 per patient), 143 were aerobes (representing 16 species or groups) and 407 were anaerobes (representing 40 species or groups). Aerobes were isolated from 86% of patients-alone in 20 cases and together with anaerobes in 87. The most common aerobic isolates were Streptococcus pyogenes (isolated from 45% of patients), Streptococcus milleri group organisms (27%), Haemophilus influenzae (11%), and viridans streptococci (11%). Anaerobes were isolated from 82% of the samples and as a sole finding from 15 abscesses. Fusobacterium necrophorum and Prevotella melaninogenica were both isolated from 38% of patients, Prevotella intermedia from 32%, Peptostreptococcus micros from 27%, Fusobacterium nucleatum from 26%, and Actinomyces odontolyticus from 23%. The rate of previous tonsillar/peritonsillar infections was lowest (25%) among patients infected with S. pyogenes and highest (52%) among those infected with F. necrophorum (P < .01). Recurrences and/or related tonsillectomies were more common among patients infected with F. necrophorum than among those infected with S. pyogenes (57% vs. 19%; P < .0001) or with S. milleri group organisms (43% vs. 19%; P < .05). beta-Lactamase was produced by only 38% of the 73 isolates of Prevotella species tested; however, 56% of the 36 patients studied harbored one or more such strains.

Adolescent↗

[Internal carotid artery aneurism following peritonsillar abscess (author's transl)].

We report an unusual case of simultaneous occurrence of peritonsillar abscess due to Streptococcus viridans with an aneurism of the internal carotid artery. Inflammation caused by the abscess was so marked that its operative treatment unexpectedly uncovered the aneurism. We believe that the aneurism probably resulted from lymphatic spread of inflammation. Although rarely occurring, such aneurisms are clinically very important: the danger of misinterpreting symptoms as those of a peritonsillar or retropharyngeal abscess is great, as is that of bleeding caused by incising an abscess overlying the aneurism. This is particularly important in children due to the frequent occurrence of tonsil infections in this age group. The differential diagnosis of posterior or lateral pharyngeal swellings in children does not generally include aneurisms since these seldom occur in children and are overall rare in occurrence.

Adolescent↗

Peritonsillar abscess. II. Cases treated with tonsillectomy à chaud.

The treatment of a peritonsillar abscess by tonsillectomy à chaud obviously offers advantages over the more conservative treatment with incision, daily dilatations and possibly a later tonsillectomy. The patient avoids the painful drainage of the abscess with daily dilatations. Technically, the operation is easier to perform than later on when fibrosis has developed. The operative complications are not greater than in elective tonsillectomy, and there is no risk of spread of the infection when the patient is treated with antibiotics.

Adolescent↗

Rationalization of peritonsillar abscess as an indication for tonsillectomy.

It has been widely held that peritonsillar abscess is a strong, if not absolute, indication for tonsillectomy, performed either immediately or after an interval of some weeks. A retrospective study of 48 patients is presented. It appears that age and the incidence of previous throat infections can be related to the likelihood of further problems and the need for operation.

Adult↗

[Pseudoaneurysm of the internal carotid artery following a peritonsillar abscess].

A pseudoaneurysm of the internal carotid artery is a rare major complication of peritonsillar abscess. We present a 95-year-old women, who had a persistent bleeding from peritonsillar fossa after a routine tonsillectomy and ligation of the external carotid artery. Postoperative performed intraarterial angiography verify the diagnosis of a pseudoaneurysm of the internal carotid artery. Subsequent ligation of the internal carotid artery superior the bifurcation stops the hemorrhage. Review of literature demonstrate the importance of angiography in such cases.

Aged↗