Prospective, observational study of the microbiology of patients referred to a tertiary care center with severe acute tonsillitis, peritonsillar cellulitis, or infectious mononucleosis.

Patients referred to tertiary care centers with acute throat infections are most often treated with antibiotics. However, very little is know concerning the prevalent pathogens in patients with acute throat infections without abscess formation. Evidence suggests that Fusobacterium necrophorum plays an important role in complications of acute tonsillitis (e.g. peritonsillar abscess), but also uncomplicated acute tonsillitis.

This study aims to explore the throat microbiology of patients with severe acute tonsillitis, peritonsillar cellulitis, or infectious mononucleosis with a special attention to a possible role of Fusobacterium necrophorum.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients referred to our tertiary care center with acute tonsillitis with or without signs of peritonsillar cellulitis and with or without infectious mononucleosis.
2. Center Score 3 or 4.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Abscess formation.
2. Previous tonsillectomy.

100 patients with severe acute tonsillitis 100 patients with peritonsillar cellulitis 50 patients with infectious mononucleosis