[Current clinical significance of anaerobic bacteremia]

Klin Mikrobiol Infekc Lek. 2010 Oct;16(5):158-63.
[Article in Czech]

Abstract

Objective: to estimate tje current clinical significance of anaerobic bacteremia in a group of Czech hospitals.

Material and methods: this retrospective analysis comprised 8 444 anaerobic blood cultures in patients admitted to four Czech hospitals between 2004 and 2007.

Results: in 16 patients, blood cultures yielded significant anaerobic bacteria. Thus, anaerobic bacteremia accounted for less than 2 % of clinically significant bacteremia. Four patients (18 %) died but none of the deaths could be clearly attributable to anaerobic bacteria in the bloodstream. The most common comorbidities predisposing to anaerobic bacteremia and the most frequent sources of infection were similar to those reported by other authors. The majority of anaerobic bacteremia cases were due to gram-negative bacteria, followed by Clostridium perfringens and, surprisingly, Eubacterium spp. (particularly Eubacterium lentum).

Conclusion: anaerobic bacteremia remains rare. The comparison of our data with those by other authors suggests that (despite the reported high mortality) the actual clinical significance of anaerobic bacteremia is rather controversial and that the anaerobic bacteremia might not correspond to more serious pathogenic role of the anaerobic bacteria as the source of infection.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bacteremia / complications
  • Bacteremia / microbiology*
  • Bacteremia / mortality
  • Bacteria, Anaerobic / isolation & purification*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged