A prospective study was carried out to determine the pattern of bacterial isolates and their antibiotic sensitivity amongst children with tonsillopharyngitis. Consecutive children presenting with sorethroat, difficulty with swallowing, fever and/ or evidence of inflamed pharynx and/ or tonsils at the paediatric casualty of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, between February and October 2006 were recruited for the study. The patient's biodata were obtained and socioeconomic status was determined. Throat swabs were taken for microbiologic analysis. Seventy three throat swabs were analysed. Bacteria were isolated from 39 patients. Of which 19 (48.72%) were ß haemolytic
Streptococcus
(BHS). others were
S. aureus five (12.83%), seven (17.95%) were
Klebsiella mirabilis
and three (7.69%) each of
Pseudomonas aeroginosa
and
Proteus mirabilis
. BHS and
S. aureus showed 100% sensitivity to cefuroxine, azithromycin, ceftazidine and genticin. All the isolates had little or no sensitivity to ampicillin and cotrimoxazole. BHS is a significant cause of pharyngitis and tonsillitis in our environment and therefore poses a potential danger of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, a non-suppurative sequalae of BHS. Ampicillin and cotrimoxazole two affordable and commonly available drugs are ineffective in tonsillitis and pharygitis.
