[Antimicrobial and surgical treatment of tonsils. Bacteriological and histological data collected on 44...

The tonsils of 44 operated children were submitted to bacteriological and histological examination. 22 children were given an oral penicillin during 5 days before tonsilectomy. Histological data and bacteriological cultures of pharyngeal exsudate and tonsillar material were very similar in the two groups of treated and non treated patients. These data suggest that, when preventive penicillinic treatment is given, it is worthy to consider the dose, the lasting and the route of administration of the prophylactic antibiotic therapy. Its unreliable activity, and the danger of bacteriemy at the moment of the operation plead for an adequate per-operative antibiotherapy.