Clin Microbiol Infect. 2023 Aug 8:S1198-743X(23)00365-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2023.08.003. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: 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 PTA patients and their microbiological findings in the two years preceding versus the two years following the COVID-19 lockdown in Denmark (March 11, 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 two-years period before (21.8 cases/100,000 inhabitants) compared to after (14.9 cases/100,000) the lockdown (p<0.001). The number of cases with growth of S. pyogenes was significantly higher in the period before (n=67) compared to after (n=28) the lockdown (p<0.001), while the number of cases positive for F. 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 to after (28/179, 16%) the lockdown (p=0.007). On the contrary, the relative prevalence of F. necrophorum and SAG were significantly lower before (60/246, 24% and 37/246, 15%) compared to 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 are unrelated to direct social interaction and may be derived from flora imbalance.
PMID:37562694 | DOI:10.1016/j.cmi.2023.08.003
