Aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of pyomyositis

The aerobic and anaerobic microbiologic characteristics of pyomyositis were investigated through a retrospective review of microbiologic and clinical data at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. Microorganisms were isolated from eight abscesses. Only anaerobic organisms were recovered in t hree patients (37.5%), aerobic and facultatives only in three (37.5%), and mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in two (25%). A total of 15 isolates w ere recovered (10 anaerobic, five aerobic or facultative). The isolates inc luded three Peptostreptococcus species, three Staphylococcus aureus, two Ba cteroides fragilis group, two Clostridium species, and one each of Escheric hia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Predisposing conditions included trauma (three cases), malignancy (three), diabetes (on e), and aplastic anemia (one).