Current susceptibility patterns of anaerobic bacteria

While antibiotic resistance among anaerobes continues to increase, the freq uency of antimicrobial susceptibility testing for anaerobes is declining. B ecause anaerobic infections are often mired and detailed bacteriology of th e organisms involved may take some time, physicians must institute empiric therapy before susceptibility testing results are available. Also, economic realities and prudent use of resources mandate that careful consideration be given to the necessity for routine susceptibility testing of anaerobic b acteria. Determination of appropriate therapy can be based on published ant ibiograms; however, since patterns may vary within geographic regions and e ven within hospitals, it is strongly recommended that each hospital center periodically, test their isolates to determine local patterns and detect an y pockets of resistance. As a general guide, antibiograms from the last sev eral years of susceptibility testing at the Wadsworth Anaerobe Laboratory a re reported.