Colonization by Haemophilus influenzae and group A streptococci in recurrent acute tonsillitis and in tonsillar...

One hundred patients subjected to tonsillectomy because of recurrent acute tonsillitis or tonsillar hypertrophy were evaluated bacteriologically both with ordinary throat culturing and cultures from tonsillar cores. In 26% of the patients H. influenzae was isolated and in 20% beta-haemolytic group A streptococci. Growth of B. catarrhalis was obtained in 10% and group C-, group G streptococci or pneumococci in less than 5% each. None of the group A streptococcal strains proved tolerant to penicillin. A much higher isolation rate of H. influenzae was found in cultures obtained from tonsillar core tissue (23%) than from ordinary throat cultures (2%). This was also the fact, though to a lower extent, regarding group A streptococci. H. influenzae and group A streptococci were isolated as often in patients with tonsillar hypertrophy as in patients suffering from recurrent acute tonsillitis, suggesting a role of these bacteria in both conditions.