AUDIT OF THE TREATMENT OF TONSILLAR AND PERITONSILLAR SEPSIS IN AN EAR, NOSE AND THROAT UNIT

We became aware that a range of antibiotics were being used in our uni t to treat patients suffering from tonsillitis or peritonsillar absces s (quinsy). There appeared to be no rationale to determine which antib iotics were used, and we felt that we were possibly using expensive an tibiotics when cheaper equally effective ones were available. An audit project was therefore devised to establish the current practice in th e ENT Unit at the City Hospital at Edinburgh. Following a six-month pr ospective pilot study, a protocol for the treatment of tonsillar and p eritonsillar sepsis was drawn up and subsequent practice and outcome w as then audited, thus completing the audit cycle. As a result substant ial savings in the cost of prescribed antibiotics have been made witho ut compromising patient care.