Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is the most common soft-tissue infection of the head and neck. This potential complication of tonsillitis has demonstrated unique microbial trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. This era has resulted in a major shift in the hygiene and social habits of the general population, which has resulted in changes in the presentation, management and microbiology of several infectious diseases. To date, the impact of COVID 19 on PTA microbiology and clinical presentation in the paediatric population has yet to be investigated.
METHODS: Retrospective chart review comparing all cases of paediatric (age 0-18) PTA in an academic tertiary centre during the COVID-19 pandemic (03/2020-02/2022) and compared them to two control groups: pre-COVID (03/2018-02/2020) and post-COVID (03/2022-03/2023). All patients were treated with either needle aspiration, incision and drainage or both means in addition to intravenous antibiotics.
METHODS: A large Ear Nose and Throat department in a tertiary referral center.
METHODS: Consecutive children aged 18 years or under, admitted with a diagnosis of Peritonsillar abscess.
METHODS: We analyzed the clinical and microbiologcal features of all cases of pediatric peritonsillar abscess during the COVID-19 era (03/2020-02/2022) and compared them to a pre and post control cases.
RESULTS: A total of 96 PTA cases were included (35 pre-COVID, 35 COVID and 26 post-COVID). The means of procedural treatment shifted in favour of incision and drainage versus needle aspiration during the COVID era. The length of hospitalisation increased during the COVID era (3.6 days vs. 2.1 and 3.1 pre and post-COVID respectively, p < .001). No other notable differences in the clinical and demographic features were found between the three eras. The COVID-19 era saw an increase in Fusobacterium (37.1% vs. 8.6% and 24% pre and post-COVID, respectively; p = .008) and Streptococcus Anginosus (31.4% vs. 5.7% and 7.7% pre and post-COVID, respectively; p = .007) species isolation.
CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic did not seem to impact the clinical presentation of paediatric PTA yet resulted in a change in microbiological pathogens. The choice of I&D as a means to shorten hospital stay during the pandemic may have led to an actual increase in hospital stay, suggesting that NA may be the preferred management approach.
METHODS: Retrospective chart review comparing all cases of paediatric (age 0-18) PTA in an academic tertiary centre during the COVID-19 pandemic (03/2020-02/2022) and compared them to two control groups: pre-COVID (03/2018-02/2020) and post-COVID (03/2022-03/2023). All patients were treated with either needle aspiration, incision and drainage or both means in addition to intravenous antibiotics.
METHODS: A large Ear Nose and Throat department in a tertiary referral center.
METHODS: Consecutive children aged 18 years or under, admitted with a diagnosis of Peritonsillar abscess.
METHODS: We analyzed the clinical and microbiologcal features of all cases of pediatric peritonsillar abscess during the COVID-19 era (03/2020-02/2022) and compared them to a pre and post control cases.
RESULTS: A total of 96 PTA cases were included (35 pre-COVID, 35 COVID and 26 post-COVID). The means of procedural treatment shifted in favour of incision and drainage versus needle aspiration during the COVID era. The length of hospitalisation increased during the COVID era (3.6 days vs. 2.1 and 3.1 pre and post-COVID respectively, p < .001). No other notable differences in the clinical and demographic features were found between the three eras. The COVID-19 era saw an increase in Fusobacterium (37.1% vs. 8.6% and 24% pre and post-COVID, respectively; p = .008) and Streptococcus Anginosus (31.4% vs. 5.7% and 7.7% pre and post-COVID, respectively; p = .007) species isolation.
CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic did not seem to impact the clinical presentation of paediatric PTA yet resulted in a change in microbiological pathogens. The choice of I&D as a means to shorten hospital stay during the pandemic may have led to an actual increase in hospital stay, suggesting that NA may be the preferred management approach.
摘要：
目的：扁桃体周围脓肿（PTA）是头颈部最常见的软组织感染。扁桃体炎的这种潜在并发症在COVID-19大流行期间显示出独特的微生物趋势。这个时代使一般人群的卫生和社会习惯发生了重大转变,这导致了演示文稿的变化，几种传染病的管理和微生物学。迄今为止,COVID19对儿科人群PTA微生物学和临床表现的影响尚待研究。
方法：回顾性图表回顾比较了COVID-19大流行期间（2020/03-02/2022）在高等教育中心的所有儿科（0-18岁）PTA病例，并将其与两个对照组进行比较：COVID前（03/2018-02/2020）和COVID后（03/2022-03/2023）。所有患者均接受任一针吸治疗，切口和引流或两者兼而有之。
方法：三级转诊中心的大型耳鼻喉科。
方法：连续18岁或以下的儿童，诊断为扁桃体周围脓肿。
方法：我们分析了COVID-19时代（03/2020-02/2022）所有小儿扁桃体周围脓肿病例的临床和微生物学特征，并将其与对照前后病例进行了比较。
结果：共纳入了96例PTA病例（35例COVID，35COVID和26COVID）。在COVID时代，手术治疗的手段转向了切口和引流，而不是针吸。在COVID时代，住院时间增加(3.6天vs.分别为COVID前后2.1和3.1，p<.001)。在三个时代之间没有发现临床和人口统计学特征的其他显着差异。COVID-19时代的梭杆菌属增加（37.1%与8.6%和24%在COVID之前和之后，分别为；p=.008）和心绞痛链球菌（31.4%vs.在COVID前后分别为5.7%和7.7%，分别；p=0.007)物种分离。
结论：COVID-19大流行似乎并未影响儿科PTA的临床表现，但导致微生物病原体的变化。选择I&D作为在大流行期间缩短住院时间的手段可能导致住院时间的实际增加,这表明NA可能是首选的管理方法。
方法：回顾性图表回顾比较了COVID-19大流行期间（2020/03-02/2022）在高等教育中心的所有儿科（0-18岁）PTA病例，并将其与两个对照组进行比较：COVID前（03/2018-02/2020）和COVID后（03/2022-03/2023）。所有患者均接受任一针吸治疗，切口和引流或两者兼而有之。
方法：三级转诊中心的大型耳鼻喉科。
方法：连续18岁或以下的儿童，诊断为扁桃体周围脓肿。
方法：我们分析了COVID-19时代（03/2020-02/2022）所有小儿扁桃体周围脓肿病例的临床和微生物学特征，并将其与对照前后病例进行了比较。
结果：共纳入了96例PTA病例（35例COVID，35COVID和26COVID）。在COVID时代，手术治疗的手段转向了切口和引流，而不是针吸。在COVID时代，住院时间增加(3.6天vs.分别为COVID前后2.1和3.1，p<.001)。在三个时代之间没有发现临床和人口统计学特征的其他显着差异。COVID-19时代的梭杆菌属增加（37.1%与8.6%和24%在COVID之前和之后，分别为；p=.008）和心绞痛链球菌（31.4%vs.在COVID前后分别为5.7%和7.7%，分别；p=0.007)物种分离。
结论：COVID-19大流行似乎并未影响儿科PTA的临床表现，但导致微生物病原体的变化。选择I&D作为在大流行期间缩短住院时间的手段可能导致住院时间的实际增加,这表明NA可能是首选的管理方法。
