Treatment with metronidazole of three patients with serious infections due to Bacteroides fragilis

Abstract

The successful treatment with metronidazole of three patients with serious infections due to Bacteroides fragilis is described. One patient had a mixed infection due to B. fragilis, B. oralis and an anaerobic Streptococcus, all sensitive to metronidazole, the other two were infections with B. fragilis only. The appropriate dosage of metronidazolein apatientwith renal failure, receiving haemodialysis was determined. The success achieved in this small series, combined with the virtual lack of toxicity of metronidazole suggests that it could become the prime agent in the treatment of such infections.