Abstract:
In order to establish the etiological agents of anaerobic infections, 154 clinical specimens collected from patients with suspected anaerobic infection were cultured under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Bacteria were isolated from 111 (72%) of these specimens. Only aerobes were recovered from 48 (43%), only anaerobes from 31 (28%) and both aerobes and anaerobes from 32 (29%) of the 111 specimens. A total 83 anaerobic bacteria including Bacteroides fragilis group (28%), Porphyromonas (19%), Peptostreptococci (10%), Prevotella (17%), Clostridia (12%), Fusobacteria (10%), Veillonella (2%) and Eubacteria (2%) were identified. Anaerobes were most commonly isolated from peritoneal fluid followed by joint fluid, abscess and endometrial materials, blood, soft-tissue biopsy and draining material.