The rationality of prescribing antibiotics after tonsillectomy

To compare the antibiotic therapy with the absence of antibiotic therapy in reducing post-tonsillectomy morbidities

The quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from November 2006 to September 2007. It involved 60 patients fulfilling the criteria for recurrent tonsillitis who were divided in two groups based on the different practice of two sets of surgeons. In one group antibiotics were used, while in the other group, no antibiotic was given. Patients filled a questionnaire about pain, post-operative bleeding, day of normal diet intake, day of normal activity and any consultation received during the first postoperative week. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 16.

There were 60 patients who were divided in two groups of 30 each on the basis of purposive sampling technique. Mean age was 21.43 +/- 8.3 years. Of the total, 55% were male and 45% were female. Post-operative pain was comparable between the two groups. Four patients had secondary haemorrhage--three in the antibiotic group, and one in the non-antibiotic group. Mean day of normal activities and normal diet intake was almost the same in both groups. Unscheduled hospital visits were 6.9% in the antibiotic group, and 3.3% in the non-antibiotic group.

The study showed that antibiotics did not have any significant impact in reducing the post-tonsillectomy morbidities.