Comparison of tonsillar biofilms between patients with recurrent tonsillitis and a control group.

CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that biofilms play a causative role in recurrent tonsillitis. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between tonsillar biofilms and recurrent tonsillitis. METHODS: The recurrent tonsillitis group comprised patients with a history of at least five episodes of tonsillitis per year over the previous 2 years. The control group comprised volunteers scheduled for laryngeal microsurgery with no history of tonsillitis over the previous 2 years. Between October 2009 and August 2010, specimens were obtained from 20 patients with recurrent tonsillitis and 20 volunteers (controls). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to confirm the presence of biofilms. Biofilms were graded at a magnification of ×500 by SEM and classified into five grades. The percentages of subjects affected and biofilm grades were compared between the recurrent tonsillitis and control groups. RESULTS: The two groups were matched for age and sex. SEM revealed that biofilms were significantly more prevalent in the recurrent tonsillitis group than in the control group. Furthermore, the biofilms in the recurrent tonsillitis group were of significantly higher grade than those in the control group.