Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

• Family: Bacteroidaceae.
• Genus: Bacteroides.
• Species: fragilis.

Etymology

• Gr: bacterum - staff or rod; idus - form or shape.
• L: fragilis - fragile (referring to the brittle colonies that may form).

Active Forms

Clinical Effects

Epidemiology

Habitat

• Part of normal flora of gastrointestinal tract and mucous membranes.

Lifecycle

• Multiples in anaerobic environments such as devitalized tissue.
• Does not form spores.

Transmission

• Opportunists - invade skin, mucosa and underlying tissues following damage.

Pathological effects

• Trauma, necrosis and ischemia   →   decreased redox potential   →   multiplication of B. fragilis and possibly   →   focal multiplication of facultative anaerobes.

Other Host Effects

• Part of the normal flora of gastrointestinal tract and mucous membranes.

Control

Control via chemotherapies

• Some strains are resistant to penicillin and some cephalosporins.
• Clavulanic acid - amoxicillin Amoxicillin or metronidazole Metronidazole usually effective.
  All obligate anaerobes are resistant to aminoglycosides.
• Metronidazole Metronidazole  active against most B. fragilis.

Diagnosis

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Rocha E R & Smith C J (1998) Characterization of peroxide-resistant mutant of the anaerobic Bacterium bacteroides fragilis. J Bacteriol 180 (22), 5906-5912 PubMed.
• Alexander C J, Citron D M, Hunt Gerardo S et al (1997) Characterization of saccharolytic Bacteroides and Prevotella isolated from infected dog and cat bite wounds in humans. J Clin Microbiol 35 (2), 406-411 PubMed.
• Jang S S, Breher J E, Dabaco L A et al (1997) Organisms isolated from dogs and cats with anaerobic infections and susceptibility to selected antimicrobial agents. JAVMA 210 (11), 1610-1614 PubMed.
• Collings S & Love D N (1992) Further studies on some physical and biochemical characteristics of asaccharolytic pigmented Bacteroides of feline origin. J Appl Bacteriol 72 (6), 529-535 PubMed.
• Clemetson L L & Ward A C (1990) Bacterial flora of the vagina and uterus of healthy cats. JAVMA 196 (6), 902-906 PubMed.
• Love D N, Vekselstein R & Collings S (1990) The obligate and facultatively anaerobic bacterial flora of the normal feline gingival margin. Vet Microbiol 22 (2-3), 267-275 PubMed.
• Mallonee D H, Harvey C E, Venner M et al (1988) Bacteriology of periodontal disease in the cat. Arch Oral Biol 33 (9), 677-683 PubMed.
• Dow S W & Jones R L (1987) Anaerobic infections. I. Pathogenesis and clinical significance. Comp Cont Ed Pract Vet 9 (7), 711-720 VetMedResource.
• Dow S W, Jones R L, Adney W S (1986) Anaerobic bacterial infections and response to therapy in dogs and cats: 36 cases (1983-1985). JAVMA 189 (8), 930-934 PubMed.
• Hirsch D C, Indiveri M C, Jang S S et al (1985) Changes in prevalence and susceptibility of obligate anaerobes in clinical veterinary practice. JAVMA 186 (10), 1086-1089 PubMed.