Recovery of anaerobic bacteria from four children with postthoracotomy sternal wound infection

The cases of 4 children who developed postthoracotomy sternal wound infecti on caused by anaerobic bacteria are presented. The predominate anaerobes we re Peptostreptococcus species and pigmented Prevotella species. Polymicrobi al infection was present in all cases, and aerobic bacteria also were recov ered in 2 instances. All patients responded to surgical debridement and ant imicrobials effective against the isolated aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. These findings highlight the potential importance of anaerobic bacteria in postthoracotomy sternal wound infection.