[Etiology of acute pharyngitis in adults: the presence of viruses and bacteria].

Pharyngeal swabs from patients with acute pharyngitis were evaluated for viruses and bacterial organisms from December 2000 through June 2001. Viral genomes were detected by PCR. Of 56 patients, potentially pathogenic bacteria were isolated in 34 (60.7%), viruses in 19 (33.9%), and no etiological pathogens in 16 patients (28.6%). Both viral and bacterial infections were found in 13 (23.2%). Of 56 patients, beta streptococci were found in 10 (6 with group A streptococci, 4 with other groups), H. influenzae in 13, S. pneumoniae in 8, and S. aureus in 7. Two bacterial organisms were isolated in 4 and 3 in 1. Virus infection was found in 19 (29.7%): Adenovirus was most frequently recovered (11 cases; 57.9%), followed by Influenza A and B virus (4 cases; 21.0%), Parainfluenza 1 virus (4 cases; 21.0%) and RS virus (2 cases; 10.5%). Two cases had 2 viruses infections. On the basis of our results, viral and bacterial coinfections are observed in early illness.