BACKGROUND: Actinomycosis is a granulomatous infection that rarely involves the larynx or pharynx. Three cases of actinomycosis of the larynx or pharynx from our institution were reviewed and a systematic literature review was performed to better define surgical management, antibiotic therapy, risk factors, and incidence of recurrence or complications.
METHODS: PubMed/Medline, Cochrane, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched on November 30, 2021 using the terms \"laryngeal actinomycosis\", \"pharyngeal actinomycosis\", \"actinomycosis AND larynx\", and \"actinomycosis AND pharynx.\" Articles which did not describe appropriate sites or were non-English were excluded. Results were collected for demographic information, site(s) of infection, comorbidities, lesion characteristics and treatments.
RESULTS: Along with three cases reported from our institution, 40 unique cases were reviewed from 37 studies for a total of 43 patients (Table 1). 34 (81.0 %) of the patients were male with the highest incidence of infection in the seventh decade (54.8 %). The most common site for the infection was the larynx (69.0 %) followed by the pharynx (16.7 %). Risk factors included a history of radiation therapy, immunosuppression, inhalational irritant, and diabetes (Table 3). The duration of antibiotic therapy varied greatly, from one month to one year and total follow up ranged from 1 month to 2.5 years (Table 1).
CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive review of the literature on pharyngolaryngeal actinomycosis shows that this infection has increased prevalence within the head and neck cancer patient population. Similar to cervicofacial actinomycosis, these atypical sites have shown favorable responses to extended antibiotic therapy and generally do not require aggressive surgical management.

OBJECTIVE: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is the most serious complication of deep neck infections (DNI). The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate prognostic factors for DNM development in deep space neck infections.
METHODS: The study enrolled patients admitted to the Emergency Center of Vojvodina with the diagnosis of multispace DNI with or without DNM either as the primary diagnosis or with discharged diagnosis after surgical treatment during 7-year period. The data were obtained from patient medical records.
RESULTS: After final analysis total of 141 charts were randomized for statystical analysis, 124 charts in DNI and 17 in DNI + DNM groups. The most common cause of infection in both groups was odontogenic. On multivariate regression analysis of collected data infection of retropharyngeal, pretracheal and carotid space, C-reactive protein and procalcitonine values were statistically significant predictors for DNM development.
CONCLUSIONS: Treatment and diagnosis of DNM requires multidisciplinary approach, with prompt clinical and radiological examinations, empirical broad spectrum antibiotic therapy and radical surgical debridement. Multispace neck infection and especially infection of retropharyngeal, carotid and pretracheal spaces are the most sensitive predictors for DNM development in deep space neck infections.
CONCLUSIONS: If the infection from deep neck spaces reach retropharyngeal, carotid or pretracheal space, the DNM is probable to occur.
BACKGROUND: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04865003. Date of registration 27.4.2021.

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of super-antigen (SAg) of group A Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), isolated from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections in Beijing between 2015-2017. Methods: Throat swab specimens from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections were collected and tested for GAS. Eleven currently known SAg genes including SpeA, speC, speG, speH, speI, speJ, speK, speL, speM, smeZ and ssa were tested by real-time PCR while M protein genes (emm genes) were amplified and sequenced by PCR. Results: A total of 377 GAS were isolated from 6 801 throat swab specimens, with the positive rate as 5.5%. There were obvious changes noticed among speC, speG, speH and speK in three years. A total of 45 SAg genes profiles were observed, according to the SAgs inclusion. There were significant differences appeared in the frequencies among two of the highest SAg genes profiles between emm1 and emm12 strains (χ(2)=38.196, P<0.001; χ(2)=72.310, P<0.001). There also appeared significant differences in the frequencies of speA, speH, speI and speJ between emm1 and emm12 strains (χ(2)=146.154, P<0.001; χ(2)=52.31, P<0.001; χ(2)=58.43, P<0.001; χ(2)=144.70, P<0.001). Conclusions: Obvious changes were noticed among SAg genes including speC, speG, speH and speK from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections in Beijing between 2015-2017. SAg genes including speA, speH, speI and speJ appeared to be associated with the emm 1 and emm 12 strains. More kinds of SAg genes profiles were isolated form GAS but with no significant differences seen in the main SAg genes profiles, during the epidemic period.
目的： 分析2015－2017年北京市猩红热及咽部感染患者A组链球菌（GAS）超抗原基因特征。 方法： 采集猩红热及咽部感染患者咽拭子标本进行GAS分离鉴定，采用实时荧光PCR法检测超抗原基因（speA、speC、speG、speH、speI、speJ、speK、speL、speM、smeZ和ssa），PCR法扩增后测序确定GAS的emm基因型别。 结果： 2015年5月至2017年7月采集的6 801份咽拭子标本中共分离到377株GAS菌株（阳性率5.5%）。超抗原基因speC、speG、speH和speK的检出率3年间出现较明显变化。共检测到45种超抗原基因谱，占比较高的2种超抗原基因谱在emm1和emm12型间分布差异均有统计学意义（χ(2)=38.196，P<0.001；χ(2)=72.310，P<0.001）。超抗原speA、speH、speI和speJ在emm1和emm12型GAS间分布差异均有统计学意义（χ(2)=146.154，P<0.001；χ(2)=52.31，P<0.001；χ(2)=58.43，P<0.001；χ(2)=144.70，P<0.001）。 结论： 2015－2017年北京市猩红热及咽部感染患者GAS超抗原基因speC、speG、speH和speK的检出率有较明显变化，speA、speH、speI和speJ在emm1和emm12基因型之间的分布存在差异，GAS菌株所携带的超抗原基因谱更宽，但主要流行谱未发生改变。.

The experience of clinicians in charge of the in-hospital management of peritonsillar abscesses supports the association between severe forms and anti-inflammatory drug (AID) consumption. However, this observation is based on a limited number of clinical studies. Our objective was to assess the prevalence and impact of AID consumption in patients with peritonsillar abscesses.
All patients referred to the ear, nose and throat surgery department for a peritonsillar abscess were included in a retrospective cohort study (2012-2014).
Among the 216 included patients (male, 55 %; median age, 32 years [IQR, 26-40]), 127 had received AID (59 %), including corticosteroids (n = 67, 31 %) and/or non-steroidal AIDs (NSAIDs, n = 76, 35 %). 199 patients (92 %) benefit from a puncture and 5 (2 %) from a surgery under general anesthesia, associated with ceftriaxone/metronidazole (51 %) or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (46 %). An iterative surgical procedure was required in 93 cases (43 %), including 19 % under general anesthesia. Bacteriological analysis (79 %) mainly disclosed streptococci (66 %) of A (18 %) and/or milleri (33 %) groups. The prevalence of anaerobes was higher in patients using AIDs (46 % versus 29 %, p = 0.034), regardless of prior antibiotic therapy. 65 patients benefited from a CT-scan; AID consumption was associated with larger abscesses (6.8 [IQR, 3.7-12.7] versus 2.9 [IQR, 0.9-7.8] cm(3); p = 0.005). AID consumption was not a risk factor of iterative surgical procedure.
In comparison to the prescribing habits in uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection, the high prevalence of AID consumption in patients with peritonsillar suppuration suggests a role of AIDs in promoting these complications.