Bacteriology of Anaerobic Pleuropulmonary Infections: Preliminary Report

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 16; no. Supplement-4; pp. S256 - S262
• Main Authors: Marina, M., Strong, C. A., Civen, R., Molitoris, E., Finegold, S. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The University of Chicago Press 01-06-1993; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Anaerobic bacteria; Bacteria, Aerobic - isolation & purification; Bacteria, Anaerobic - classification; Bacteria, Anaerobic - isolation & purification; Bacteria, Anaerobic - pathogenicity; Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Bacteriology; Bacteroides; Flora; Humans; Infections; Pathogens; Peptostreptococcus; Pleuropneumonia - microbiology; Pneumonia, Aspiration - microbiology; Prevotella; Retrospective Studies; Specimens; Streptococcus; Systemic Infection Involving Anaerobes
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1093/clinids/16.Supplement_4.S256

A retrospective bacteriologic study of anaerobic pleuropulmonary infections diagnosed at the Wadsworth Veterans Affairs Medical Center between 1976 and 1991 was performed. There were 116 specimens from 110 patients. Available strains were reexamined using the latest tests and taxonomic schemes. Pleural fluid was believed to provide the most reliable specimen; cultures yielded an average of 3.0 anaerobes and 0.6 nonanaerobes per specimen. The most commonly encountered anaerobes were pigmented Prevotella species, nonpigmented Prevotella species, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Peptostreptococcus species, and Bacteroides species. Thirty percent of the anaerobic gram-negative rods were β-lactamase producers.