Characteristics of pathogens recovered from the tonsils and adenoids in a group of Lebanese children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

A quantitative estimation of isolated bacteria from adenoid and tonsil tissues was carried out in 62 patients undergoing elective tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy in a major medical center in Beirut, Lebanon. To determine the prevalent bacterial etiology of infections in these patients, the surface and core tissues were removed or excised from the adenoid and both tonsils and analyzed by culture. Data showed that Haemophilus species were prevalent in these infections and most isolates were susceptible to tested antimicrobial agents. INTRODUCTION Upper airway obstruction secondary to chronic inflammation or hypertrophy of the adenoid and/or tonsils can lead to 04Matar-vol5no3 1/26/70 7:52 PM Page 473