Actinomyces findings in tonsillectomy specimens- comparison between adults and pediatrics populations

Tonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure primarily performed for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and recurrent acute tonsillitis. Actinomyces are gram-positive, anaerobic bacteria commonly found in the oral cavity and known to form part of the human microbiome, occasionally associated with localized infections. While Actinomyces bacterial colonization in tonsils has been previously studied, its correlation with surgical indications and outcomes remains unclear.

The study aimed to investigate the relationship between Actinomyces colonization in tonsillar specimens and surgical indications, and to examine whether Actinomyces presence influences tonsillectomy outcomes, specifically post-operative hemorrhage and hospital stay.

This retrospective cohort study analyzed electronic medical records from Lady Davis Carmel Medical Centre between 2011 and 2021. The study included 1,333 patients who underwent extra-capsular tonsillectomies. Patient demographics, surgical indications, length of hospital stay, post-surgical complications, and pathological reports were collected and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 28.0.

The study population consisted of 760 (57%) males and 573 (43%) females, with an age range of 0.98 to 67.5 years (mean 9.1 years). Actinomyces was present in 13.2% of specimens from patients with infectious indications compared to 4.5% in patients with obstructive indications (p < 0.001). A statistically significant age difference was observed between patients with (17.78 years) and without (8.55 years) Actinomyces. Multivariate analysis revealed that age was the most significant predictor of Actinomyces presence (OR 1.047, p < 0.0001).

The study found a significant correlation between Actinomyces presence, older age, and infectious surgical indications. While Actinomyces colonization did not demonstrate a direct influence on surgical complications, the findings suggest potential clinical relevance that merits further research to elucidate the bacterium's role in tonsillar pathology.