Identification of the Bacteria that causes Childhood Tonsillitis

Abstract

Introduction: Tonsillitis is the most common infectious condition after viral nose and throat infections. Millions of new infections every year are recorded globally. Young people under the age of 15 are disproportionately affected by acute tonsillitis. This study aimed to isolate the bacteria causing tonsilitis in children. Methods: One hundred thirty throat swabs were taken from a variety of individuals who were clinically determined to have tonsillitis with purulent discharges at the ENT clinic at Kuthospital. Isolates were tested for their gram stain response and biochemical features after being promptly transported to the laboratory and streaked directly on blood agar, which was incubated aerobically for 24 hours at 37°C. The following antibiotics were tested on all isolates using the disc diffusion technique: penicillin (10 units), gentamicin (10 mcg), vancomycin (30 mcg), erythromycin (15 mcg), ciprofloxacin (10 mcg), cephalothin (30 mcg), and chloramphenicol (30 mcg). Isolates were classified as sensitive or resistant based on the widths of zones of inhibition. Results: Thirty-four strains of Streptococci, 14 strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis, 32 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 15 strains of another Staphylococcus spp., and 9 strains of Haemophilus parainfluenzae were detected. The current results showed that most isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, and vancomycin, while most isolates showed resistance to penicillin and gentamycin. Conclusion: Streptococci and S. aureus showed to be the most common bacterial causes of tonsilitis in children who were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, and vancomycin.