Clinical analyses of 115 patients with peritonsillar abscess

Abstract

The clinical data of 115 patients with peritonsillar abscess (98 men and 17 women) treated between May 2011 and March 2014 were analyzed. We examined 9 items; the age, sex, affected side, duration of hospitalization, method of drainage, smoking history, history of diabetes, antibacterial drugs used, and the isolated bacteria. The disease predominantly affected males in their 30s (27.8% of all the patients). The median duration of hospitalization was 7 days. In regard to the affected side, the right side was affected in 52%, the left side in 44%, and both sides in 4%. The method of drainage used was incision in 63%, and puncture in 37%. In regard to the personal and past medical history, 51% of patients had a history of smoking and 3.5% had a history of diabetes. ABPC/SBT was used as the single-agent antibacterial drug in 75% of cases. The most commonly isolated aerobic bacteria were a-hemolytic streptococci, and the most commonly isolated anaerobic bacteria were Prevotella. The duration of hospitalization showed no significant correlation with the smoking history, drainage method or the antibiotic treatment used (ABPC/SBT single-agent or multiple drug use). On the other hand, the duration of hospitalization was significantly longer in the more than S65 years' age group than in the <65 years' age group. Therefore, especially careful interventions for prevention and treatment of peritonsillar abscess are required in the elderly. In relation to antibiotic selection, it may be reasonable to expect sufficient effect with the use of ABPC/SBT as a single agent, as this antibiotic has a broad antibacterial spectrum covering aerobic, anaerobic and drug-resistant bacteria.