Overview of anaerobic infections in children

Abstract

Anaerobic infections are common in children yet difficult to diagnose. Anaerobes are the most predominant components of the skin and mucous membranes bacterial flora, and are therefore a common cause of endogenous infections. Because of their fastidiousness, 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 soft tissues. They can occur at any age and have a unique role in newborns. Therapy inadequate against these organisms may lead to clinical failures. Their isolation requires appropriate methods of collection, transportation and cultivation of specimens. Treatment is complicated by the slow growth of anaerobes, by their growing resistance to antimicrobials, and by the polymicrobial nature of the infection. Antimicrobial therapy is often the only form of therapy required, whereas in others it is an adjunct to a surgical approach. Because anaerobic bacteria generally are recovered mixed with aerobic organisms, the choice of appropriate antimicrobial agents should provide for adequate coverage of both types of pathogens.

Keywords

Anaerobes - Bacteroides fragilis - Clostridium spp. - children