Bacterial penetration into tonsillar surface epithelium during infectious mononucleosis

Bacterial penetration into epithelial cells, scraped from the palatine tons ils of 14 patients (10 males, four females; median age 16 years) with curre nt infectious mononucleosis and concomitant membranous tonsillitis, was stu died using the transmission electron microscopic (TEM) technique. Bacteria were seen to adhere to and penetrate the epithelial cells, some of which we re completely filled with bacteria. This finding suggests intracellular pro liferation of bacteria. Epstein-Barr virus, the causative agent of infectio us mononucleosis, especially when associated with growth of P-haemolytic st reptococci on the palatine tonsils, induces bacterial penetration into tons illar tissue, that in turn might be a causative mechanism in the developmen t of peritonsillar abscess.