The Spectrum of Aetiological Agents and Response to Treatment with Oral Cloxacillin in Acute Tonsillitis

Abstract

Introduction: Acute tonsillitis is a common problem in patients who present to the Ear, Nose, Throat Out Paitent Department (ENT OPD). Children and young adults are commonly affected. Antibiotics are generally prescribed in such patients empirically. This study aims to find out the common agents causing acute tonsillitis and clinical response to oral Cloxacillin.

Materials and methods: This is a cross sectional observational study conducted from July 2018 to June 2019 in the Department of ENT, Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, Pokhara. Throat swab was sent for culture and patients were prescribed oral Cloxacillin. Patients were analyzed after culture sensitivity reports for improvement of their symptoms on 5th to 6th day of treatment. McIsaac score less than 3 was considered as treated and score >3 considered untreated.

Results: Acute tonsillitis was the most frequent in age group 21-30 years and group A Beta hemolytic streptococcus was the most common isolate. Cloxacillin is found to be effective in the treatment of acute bacterial tonsillitis.

Conclusion: This study suggests that oral Cloxacillin is effective in treatment of acute tonsillitis & the most common organism isolated was B Hemolytic streptococcus.