The Use of Postoperative Antibiotics in Tonsillectomy: A Comparative Study

Background: After a tonsillectomy, the bared tonsillar fossa becomes colonised by the oral bacterial flora, which can cause a strong localised inflammatory reaction, pain aggravation, and a delay in healing. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of antibiotics given orally or intravenously with no antibiotic protocol on post-bipolar diathermy tonsillectomy morbidity. Patients and methods: From January 2021 to January 2022, a total of 300 patients indicated for tonsillectomy. Those patients were divided into three equal groups. Group I received injectable antibiotic in the first two days’ post-operative followed by oral amoxicillin clavulanic acid for another 5 days. Group II received oral antibiotic (amoxicillin clavulanic acid 7 days postoperative. Group III didn’t receive antibiotic postoperative period. Results: Vomiting and secondary diarrhoea were observed in high frequency in patients who received oral antibiotic (group II). Other data included fever, pain score and return to normal diet and normal activity showed no significant differences between the different groups. Conclusion: Based on the current study, there is no effect of antibiotics use on speed of recovery and pain score. New multi-center clinical trials are warranted to confirm such findings.