The role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in severe acute tonsillitis

Chlamydia pneumoniae has been implicated as a cause of tonsillitis and pharyngitis, but the incidence has varied from one to 19 per cent in various studies. We investigated 51 patients admitted to University College Hospital, Galway, with severe tonsillitis. Throat swabs were examined for evidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae using a direct monoclonal antibody test. Blood was taken for serology from 45 patients. A further specimen was taken at six weeks. A control group of 32 blood bank sera was used. Mean hospital stay was three days (one to eight). Five patients (10 per cent) were monospot positive. Chlamydia pneumoniae was identified by direct immunofluorescence on a tonsillar swab from one patient who did not seroconvert. IgG antibody was identified in 13 cases (29 per cent) and in seven of the control group (22 per cent). No serological evidence of recent infection was found. Chlamydia pneumoniae was not found to be a cause of severe acute tonsillitis in our study group.