The rate of bacteremia during adenotonsillectomy

Objectives: To investigate the incidence of bacteremia during adenotonsillectomy and evaluate the possible relation between adenotonsillar and blood cultures.Methods: Sixty-seven consecutive patients were undergone tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy for recurrent acute tonsillitis (adenotonsillectomy in 54 and only tonsillectomy in 13). Blood cultures as well as tonsillar surface and deep tissue cultures were obtained from all patients before and five minutes after operation.Results: The positive blood cultures were seen in five patients who had undergone only adenotonsillectomy. Besides pathogen bacteria including S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae; alpha-hemolytic streptococcus as an oropharyngeal flora bacterium has been found to cause bacteremia.Conclusion: Antibiotic prophylaxis should be used in patients with risk factors due to the transient bacteremia.