Vaikjärv R, et al. - In this study including patients with peritonsillar abscess (PTA) (n=92) undergoing bilateral emergency tonsillectomy, researchers assessed the proportion of patients meeting sepsis criteria as well as to compare patients with and without sepsis symptoms with respect to risk factors and treatment outcomes. They also assessed the usefulness of different clinical and laboratory markers for diagnosing PTA. The diagnostic criteria for sepsis were fulfilled by half of the patients with PTA. Current smoking and not receiving antibiotic treatment prior to hospitalization were identified as risk factors for sepsis. No difference was evident in PTA treatment outcome between the patients with and without sepsis clinical picture in case of surgical treatment. As a diagnostic marker for PTA, a better efficacy was displayed by C-reactive protein than procalcitonin. Remarkably high amylase level was detected in the pus from a portion of the PTA patients, showing a possible link with Weber’s salivary glands infection.