Anaerobic infections

Anaerobic infections are common yet difficult to diagnose. Anaerobes are th e predominant components of the bacterial nora of the skin and mucous membr anes, and are therefore a common cause of endogenous infections. Because of their fastidious requirements they are difficult to isolate and are often overlooked. Anaerobic infections can occur in all body sites, including the central nervous system, head and neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, skin and so ft tissues. Therapy inadequate against these organisms may lead to clinical failures. Their isolation requires appropriate methods of collection, tran sportation and cultivation of specimens. Treatment is complicated by the sl ow growth of some anaerobes, by their increasing resistance to antibiotics, and by the polymicrobial nature of the infection. Antimicrobial therapy is often the only form of therapy required, but sometimes it is an adjunct to a surgical approach. Because anaerobic bacteria generally are recovered mi xed with aerobic organisms, therapy should cover both types of pathogen. (C ) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.