Recent Developments in the Understanding of the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Anaerobic Infections

Abstract

(First of Two Parts)ANAEROBIC bacteria constitute a prominent part of the abundant microbial flora of the human body. The oropharynx, skin, colon, and vagina harbor up to 10¹¹ anaerobes per cubic centimeter.¹ Because of their fastidious growth requirements and ubiquity as commensals, the pathogenic role of anaerobic bacteria has only relatively recently begun to be understood, and our understanding is still evolving.Not long ago, a review of anaerobes in infection¹ entailed presenting evidence for their involvement in clinical syndromes previously ascribed to facultative organisms alone. Refinements in culturing methods have made this issue less controversial, as the importance . . .