Anaerobic infections in children: a prospective survey

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Abstract
Over 18-mo., cultures from 95 infants and children yielded 146 anaerobic organisms in 110 clinical specimens. Bacteroides was the most frequently isolated anaerobe, followed by Propionibacterium and Clostridium spp. Intra-abdominal sources, soft tissues and blood were the 3 major sources (82%) of anaerobe isolation. Most patients (58%) were over 5 yr of age and only 11% were newborns; anaerobic infections constituted a uniform proportion of all infections, regardless of sources, in all age groups. Anaerobes accounted for only 2.9% of all positive cultures encountered from the various sources. Rates of recovery of anaerobes from intra-abdominal sources were significantly the highest; from soft-tissue they were significantly the lowest. The anaerobic bacteremias observed were of no clinical significance when Propionibacterium species were isolated; recovery of other anaerobes from the blood, and primarily Bacteroides species, was usually associated with clinical disease. Except in blood cultures, anaerobes almost invariably coexisted with facultative bacteria.

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