[Bacteremia and tonsillectomy]

A comparative study on the course of bacteremia and the postoperative behavior in 132 patients requiring tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy has been conducted. A control group including 33 patients was compared to three groups of an even number of cases treated with either doxycycline or amoxycyllin, or receiving gamma globulin immunotheraphy. Choice was guided by (1) the occurrence of bacteremia during surgery and the search for the various microbial strains involved, and (2) the confirmation of the advantages of the drug used within the first week of treatment.