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Anaerobic Infections, Pediatric

Eimear Kitt, MB, BCh, BAO (NUI) and Hamid Bassiri, MD, PhD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Anaerobic bacteria are organisms capable of growing in a reduced oxygen environment, either exclusively (obligate anaerobes) or in addition to growing in air (facultative anaerobes).

  • ...

DIAGNOSIS

Involvement of anaerobic bacteria should be suspected in infections with suppuration or foul smell, abscess formation, tissue necrosis, or in hosts with systemic disease or defective immunit...

TREATMENT

MEDICATION

  • Empiric antibiotics for anaerobic infections include the following:

    • Metronidazole

    • Carbapenems (e.g., meropenem or imipenem)

    • Chloramphenicol (Supplies in the United States may be limit...

ONGOING CARE

PROGNOSIS

  • Determined by speed with which infection is appropriately treated with antibiotics and/or drainage

  • High rates of morbidity and mortality associated with untreated anaerobic bacter...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Brook I. Anaerobic infections in children. Adv Exp Med Biol.  2011;697:117–152. [View Abstract on OvidInsights]

  • Brook I. Clinical review: bacteremia caused by anaerobic bacteria...

CODES

ICD9

  • 041.84 Other specified bacterial infections in conditions classified elsewhere and of unspecified site, other anaerobes

  • 040.89 Other specified bacterial diseases

  • 473.9 Unspecified sinusitis (c...

FAQ

  • Q: My patient has a suspected brain abscess. What is the appropriate antibiotic regimen to initiate pending further tests?

  • A: Like many anaerobic infections, a brain abscess must be assumed to be p...

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