Recurrent Tonsillitis

Biofilms mediate the recurrence of approximately 80% of recurrent and chronic bacterial infections, including tonsilitis. The film acts as a blanket for the microbial community in the warm folds of the tonsils. Studies indicate that biofilms might be present in at least 70.8% of chronic tonsillitis patients. This is why oral antimicrobials only provide temporary relief from tonsilitis. 

 

You might think – why not just remove the tonsils – a procedure conducted on over 530,000 under 15s annually in the US alone? Beyond the general short-term risks of any surgery, tonsillectomies have been shown to increase the risk of respiratory infections and allergic conditions later in life – including asthma, influenza, pneumonia, and COPD. 

 

So, the question remains, how do we mitigate the damaging impact of consistent use of oral antibiotics to treat recurrent infection, without impacting the long-term health of a patient?