Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the impact of social distancing on the incidence and microbiology of peritonsillar abscess (PTA).
METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of all patients with PTA and their microbiological findings in the 2 years preceding versus the 2 years following the COVID-19 lockdown in Denmark (11 March 2020), who were admitted to the Ear-Nose-Throat Department, Aarhus University Hospital. Age-stratified population data for the catchment area were obtained from Statistics Denmark.
RESULTS: The annual incidence rate was significantly higher in the 2-year period before (21.8 cases/100 000 inhabitants) compared with after (14.9 cases/100 000) the lockdown (p < 0.001). The number of cases with growth of Streptococcus pyogenes was significantly higher in the period before (n = 67) compared with after (n = 28) the lockdown (p < 0.001), whereas the number of cases positive for Fusobacterium necrophorum (n = 60 vs. n = 64) and streptococcus anginosus group (SAG) (n = 37 vs. n = 43) were stabile (p 0.79 and p 0.58, respectively). The relative prevalence of S. pyogenes was significantly higher in the period before (67/246 cultures, 27%) compared with after (28/179, 16%) the lockdown (p 0.007). On the contrary, the relative prevalence of F. necrophorum and SAG is significantly lower before (60/246, 24% and 37/246, 15%) compared with after (64/179, 36% and 43/179, 24%) the lockdown (p 0.013 and p 0.023).
CONCLUSIONS: Social distancing had a significant impact on the incidence and microbiology of PTA. Our findings suggest that S. pyogenes-positive PTA is highly related to direct social interaction, and represents a contagious pathogen. By contrast, PTA development caused by F. necrophorum and SAG is unrelated to direct social interaction and may be derived from flora imbalance.
METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of all patients with PTA and their microbiological findings in the 2 years preceding versus the 2 years following the COVID-19 lockdown in Denmark (11 March 2020), who were admitted to the Ear-Nose-Throat Department, Aarhus University Hospital. Age-stratified population data for the catchment area were obtained from Statistics Denmark.
RESULTS: The annual incidence rate was significantly higher in the 2-year period before (21.8 cases/100 000 inhabitants) compared with after (14.9 cases/100 000) the lockdown (p < 0.001). The number of cases with growth of Streptococcus pyogenes was significantly higher in the period before (n = 67) compared with after (n = 28) the lockdown (p < 0.001), whereas the number of cases positive for Fusobacterium necrophorum (n = 60 vs. n = 64) and streptococcus anginosus group (SAG) (n = 37 vs. n = 43) were stabile (p 0.79 and p 0.58, respectively). The relative prevalence of S. pyogenes was significantly higher in the period before (67/246 cultures, 27%) compared with after (28/179, 16%) the lockdown (p 0.007). On the contrary, the relative prevalence of F. necrophorum and SAG is significantly lower before (60/246, 24% and 37/246, 15%) compared with after (64/179, 36% and 43/179, 24%) the lockdown (p 0.013 and p 0.023).
CONCLUSIONS: Social distancing had a significant impact on the incidence and microbiology of PTA. Our findings suggest that S. pyogenes-positive PTA is highly related to direct social interaction, and represents a contagious pathogen. By contrast, PTA development caused by F. necrophorum and SAG is unrelated to direct social interaction and may be derived from flora imbalance.
摘要：
目的：我们旨在探讨社会距离对扁桃体周围脓肿（PTA）发病率和微生物学的影响。
方法：我们对丹麦COVID-19封锁前两年（2020年3月11日）的所有PTA患者及其微生物学结果进行了横断面分析，他们被允许进入耳鼻喉部，奥胡斯大学医院.从丹麦统计局获得了集水区的年龄分层人口数据。
结果：封锁前两年（21.8例/100,000居民）的年发病率显着高于封锁后（14.9例/100,000）（p<0.001）。产脓链球菌生长的病例数在封锁前(n=67)明显高于封锁后(n=28)(p<0.001)，而坏死F.（n=60vsn=64）和链球菌（SAG）（n=37vsn=43）阳性的病例数稳定（分别为p=0.79和p=0.58）。化脓性链球菌的相对患病率在之前的时期显著较高(67/246文化，27%)与封锁后(28/179，16%)相比(p=0.007)。相反,与封锁后(64/179,36%和43/179,24%)相比(p=0.013和p=0.023),在封锁前(60/246,24%和37/246,15%)。
结论：社会距离对PTA的发病率和微生物学有显著影响。我们的发现表明，化脓性链球菌阳性PTA与直接的社会互动高度相关，代表一种传染性病原体。相比之下,坏死F.和SAG引起的PTA发育与直接的社会互动无关，可能源于菌群失衡。
方法：我们对丹麦COVID-19封锁前两年（2020年3月11日）的所有PTA患者及其微生物学结果进行了横断面分析，他们被允许进入耳鼻喉部，奥胡斯大学医院.从丹麦统计局获得了集水区的年龄分层人口数据。
结果：封锁前两年（21.8例/100,000居民）的年发病率显着高于封锁后（14.9例/100,000）（p<0.001）。产脓链球菌生长的病例数在封锁前(n=67)明显高于封锁后(n=28)(p<0.001)，而坏死F.（n=60vsn=64）和链球菌（SAG）（n=37vsn=43）阳性的病例数稳定（分别为p=0.79和p=0.58）。化脓性链球菌的相对患病率在之前的时期显著较高(67/246文化，27%)与封锁后(28/179，16%)相比(p=0.007)。相反,与封锁后(64/179,36%和43/179,24%)相比(p=0.013和p=0.023),在封锁前(60/246,24%和37/246,15%)。
结论：社会距离对PTA的发病率和微生物学有显著影响。我们的发现表明，化脓性链球菌阳性PTA与直接的社会互动高度相关，代表一种传染性病原体。相比之下,坏死F.和SAG引起的PTA发育与直接的社会互动无关，可能源于菌群失衡。
