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    Infect Chemother. 2009 Jul-Aug;41(4):216-223. Korean.
    Published online Aug 31, 2009.
    https://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2009.41.4.216
    Copyright © 2009 The Korean Society of Infectious Diseases and The Korean Society for Chemotherapy
    Original Article

    Recent Trends of Anaerobic Bacteria Isolated from Clinical Specimens and Clinical Characteristics of Anaerobic Bacteremia

    Yongjung Park, M.D.,1 Yangsoon Lee, M.D.,1 Myungsook Kim, M.S.,1 Jun Yong Choi, M.D.,2 Dongeun Yong, M.D.,1 Seok Hoon Jeong, M.D.,1 June Myung Kim, M.D.,2 Kyungwon Lee, M.D.,1 and Yunsop Chong, Ph.D.1
      • 1Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
      • 2Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
    • Corresponding author: Kyungwon Lee, M.D. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea. Tel: +82-2-2228-2446, Fax: +82-2-313-0908, Email: leekcp@yuhs.ac
    Received April 23, 2009; Accepted August 10, 2009.

    This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

    Abstract

    Background

    Anaerobic bacteria can cause various infections, and their incidence may differ greatly, depending on the country or hospital. We investigated recent trends in anaerobe isolation and clinical characteristics of anaerobic bacteremia in one hospital in Korea to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of anaerobic infections.

    Materials and Methods

    Anaerobic bacteria isolated from blood, body fluids and abscess specimens at a university hospital in Korea during 2007 and 2008 were analyzed. The medical records of 82 anaerobic bacteremia patients were reviewed. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine the risk factors for in-hospital mortality of patients with anaerobic bacteremia.

    Results

    A total of 289 non-duplicated anaerobic isolates were recovered from blood, body fluids and abscess specimens. Bacteroides fragilis (73 isolates, 25.3%) was the most common organism followed by Clostridium perfringens (22 isolates, 7.6%), Peptoniphilus asaccharolyticus (21 isolates, 7.3%) and Anaerococcus prevotii (19 isolates, 6.6%). Eighty-four isolates were recovered from blood specimens, among which B. fragilis (24 isolates) and C. perfringens (21 isolates) were the most frequently isolated organisms. Among the 196 underlying diseases of anaerobic bacteremia patients, neoplastic, infectious, and gastrointestinal diseases accounted for 54 (27.6%), 46 (23.5%), and 41 (20.9%) cases, respectively. The alimentary tract was the most common suspected portal of entry. The in-hospital mortality rate of anaerobic bacteremia patients was 34.2%, and neutropenia at the time of blood culture was the only statistically significant factor associated with mortality in this study. Anaerobes were isolated in 1.4% of all positive blood cultures.

    Conclusions

    B. fragilis and C. perfringens are expected to be commonly isolated from clinical specimens. Despite its low prevalence, anaerobic bacteremia displays a significant in-hospital mortality rate. Ongoing investigations into anaerobic bacteremia are necessary because of ambiguous risk factors for mortality.

    Keywords
    Anaerobe; Bacteremia; Bacteroides fragilis; Clostridium perfringens

    Tables

    Table 1
    Distribution of Anaerobic Bacterial Strains Isolated from Various Clinical Specimens in a Single Korean Hospital in 2007 and 2008

    Table 2
    Site of infection and the Genus of Anaerobic Bacteria Isolated from the Blood

    Table 3
    Aerobic Bacteria Concomitantly Isolated with Anaerobes from the Blood

    Table 4
    Demographics and Factors Associated with In-hospital Mortality in 79 Patients with Anaerobic Bacteremia

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    MeSH Terms
    Abscess
    Bacteremia
    Bacteria, Anaerobic
    Bacteroides fragilis
    Body Fluids
    Clostridium perfringens
    Cohort Studies
    Gastrointestinal Diseases
    Hospital Mortality
    Humans
    Incidence
    Korea
    Medical Records
    Neutropenia
    Prevalence
    Retrospective Studies
    Risk Factors
    Metrics
    Share
    Tables
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