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Acute peritonsillar abscess caused by Arcanobacterium haemolyticum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

M. Barnham  and
R. A. Bradwell
M. Barnham*
Affiliation:
Harrogate
R. A. Bradwell
Affiliation:
Harrogate
*
Department of Microbiology, Harrogate General Hospital, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG2 7ND.
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Abstract

A patient is reported with a peritonsillar abscess yielding Arcanobacterium haemolyticum. This appears to be only the fifth such case described in the medical literature and the first from Europe. The organism has been reported as an occasional cause of tonsillopharyngitis with rash, resembling infection with Streptococcus pyogenes but often unresponsive to penicillin therapy. A. haemolyticum easily passes unrecognized in bacteriological cultures as a result of its slow growth, coryneform appearance in the Gram's stain and weak haemolytic activity on conventional laboratory media.

Keywords

Arcanobacterium haemolyticumAbscess, peritonsillar
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 106 , Issue 11 , November 1992 , pp. 1000 - 1001
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1992

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