Anaerobic bacteria: Infection and Management

Anaerobic bacteria are important pathogens in many different infections. Empiric antimicrobial therapy is frequently used in the treatment of anaerobic infections as it might take several days for bacterial cultures to grow and, in many cases, the patient needs care without delay. The patient’s condition and the nature of the infecting microorganisms are of extreme importance.Since anaerobic infections are generally polymicrobial, where anaerobes are mixed with aerobic organisms, therapy should provide coverage of both types of pathogens. The isolation of anaerobes requires appropriate methods of collection, transportation and cultivation of specimens. The lack of use of any of these methods can lead to inadequate recovery of anaerobes and inappropriate therapy. Treatment of anaerobic infection is complicated by the slow growth of these organisms and the growing resistance of anaerobic bacteria to antimicrobials. The primary role of antimicrobials is to limit the local and systemic spread of infection. Surgical drainage is of primary importance. The antibiotic resistance patterns are no longer predictable in anaerobic bacteria and the first choice of antibiotic might not be sufficient. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the infecting microorganisms will give essential information of the alternatives for treatment.