Swab Culture is Inaccurate Test for Determining Tonsillitis

A fascinating study came out in June 2017 that compared the bacteria found on the tonsil surface by swab versus bacteria found within a core needle biopsy versus bacteria found within the dissected tonsil's core. The take home finding is that a swab culture poorly identifies the bacteria causing recurrent tonsillitis . Based on 54 children who underwent tonsillectomy , researchers performed a swab, needle biopsy, and core dissection of all tonsils removed. Culture results obtained from…

6/28/2017 0

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Molecular Diagnostic Testing of Infections of the Ears, Nose, or Throat

Our office has recently incorporated molecular diagnostic testing in order to identify and treat stubborn infections of the ear , sinuses , and/or throat. Traditionally, germ identification is determined by cultures whereby a swab of pus is plated on a growth medium. A microbiologist than evaluates these plates and provides a report of what germ has grown out visually. In other situations like strep or mono , the test specifically looks for unique proteins that identify the germ (and ignores…

5/02/2017 0

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Pet Dog May Cause Recurrent Strep Throat

Image courtesy of alex_ugalek at  FreeDigitalPhotos.net In rare situations, strep throat infection bounces repeatedly among all family members. In such situations, the family's pet dog may be the carrier for strep that may cause such recurrent strep infections among the children and parents. See references below. Fortunately, in the vast majority of situations, the pet dog has no role in recurrent strep throat infections . Indeed, many healthcare professionals are in fact skeptical …

8/21/2016 0

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The Nose is a Jungle of Germs (even in Normal Healthy People)!

A fascinating study was conducted by Stanford researchers on the amount and types of germs found inside the nose in normal healthy individuals, whether they are staph carriers or not. In a typical nose in a healthy individual without any symptoms, the following "germs" can be found. Keep in mind that ALL these germs have the potential to cause a pathological sinus infection : • Corynebacterium • Propionibacterium • Escherichia-Shigella • Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA…

12/12/2013 0

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Why Do Culture Results Take So Long? [video]

One of the most common questions I get after obtaining a culture of pus whether from the ear or the nose is how long it takes before the culture results are back... especially when MRSA is a concern. Does it take a few hours? 24 hours? Days? Disappointingly, it can take up to 5+ days if not longer. You want to know why? Well, rather than explaining, watch a  6-minute video  that explains the numerous steps that goes into providing a diagnosis after a culture has been obtained... in th…

4/02/2013 0

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Customized Cancer Treatment Using Technique Similar to C&S for Infections

Imagine being 24 years old and having undergone 350 surgeries to remove growths from the throat... and expecting to undergo even more in the future. Well, this situation is not unheard of for patients who suffer from a condition called recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). Although it is not rare for intermittent and sporadic warty growths called papillomas to occur in the mouth and throat due to the HPV virus, RRP is a much more severe condition where such papillomas start appearin…

9/27/2012 0

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