최근 10년간 편도주위농양의 임상적 양상의 변화

Background and Objectives: Peritonsillar abscess is a disease in which pus is collected between the tonsillar capsule and the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle. The use of antibiotics and the changes of the medical environment can make a difference in the clinical aspects of peritonsillar abscess, which in turn, can make influence on the treatment of it. We compared the two clinical analyses to evaluate any clinical changes of peritonsillar abscess during the past 10 years. Materials and Method: Forty patients with peritonsillar abscess, who visited St. Benedict Hospital from March 2001 through February 2004 were analysed retrospectively on various clinical factors including bacteriology and antibiotics sensitivity. The result was compared with the one from forty patients who visited the same hospital from February 1994 through March 1997. Results: Compared with the result of 10 years ago, we found the statistically significant decrease in body temperature at visit to the hospital and in hospitalization days. Staphylococcus aureus as causative organism became more important than it was 10 years ago. Resistance of cultured organisms to penicillin remarkably increased. Conclusion: Penicillin was not effective for the treatment of peritonsillar abscess any more because of the increased resistance of organisms to it during the past 10 years. (J Clinical Otolaryngol 2004;15:245–249)