Identifying and Isolating Bacterial Pathogens Causing Acute Pharyngitis

Abstract

Acute pharyngitis is a prevalent inflammatory condition primarily caused by viral or bacterial infections. Accurate identification of the causative agent is crucial for appropriate treatment selection. This study aimed to investigate the bacterial profile of patients with tonsillitis admitted to Marjan Teaching Hospital, as well as evaluate the potential psychological impact on affected individuals. Tonsil swabs were collected from male and female patients presenting with symptoms such as fever, dysphagia, swollen lymph nodes and pharyngeal tissues, voice alterations, and vomiting. Customized growth media was utilized for culturing the samples. Out of 250 samples, all exhibited positive bacterial growth (100%). Phenotypic and biochemical analyses were conducted to identify the bacteria. The most prevalent bacterium found was Staphylococcus aureus (40%, or 10 isolates), followed by Bacillus cereus (20%, or 5 isolates), Streptococcus pyogenes (16%, or 4 isolates), Streptococcus viridans (12%, or 3 isolates), Staphylococcus epidermidis (8%, or 2 isolates), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (4%). The results indicated a higher susceptibility to infection among male patients compared to females, particularly within the age range of 6-12 years old. These findings contribute to understanding the etiology of acute pharyngitis and underline the importance of accurate pathogen identification for effective treatment strategies.