Anaerobic microbiology of peritoneal cavity specimens in childhood

Abstract number: 1733_1039

Vlachou M., Garantziotou D., Kaleyias J., Galanopoulou L., Rouli V., Apostolaki T., Koureli O., Spiliopoulou A., Gatopoulou A.

Introduction: Even though anaerobic organisms are part of the normal flora, they are associated with several infections with significant morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: The aim of the study was the assessment of incidence of the anaerobic organisms isolated from peritoneal cavity specimens in children.

Material and Methods:Setting: Children Hospital of Patras ``Karamandanio''. Study period: June 2003–June 2006 (3 years). Material: Smears from the peritoneal cavity and the lumen of the appendix vermiformis. All the positive anaerobic culture were included in the further analysis of the study. The anaerobic bottles were incubated with the automatic system BacT-Alert (bioMérieux). The culture of specimens was performed using the appropriate material (Schaedler) for Gram(+) and Gram(-), incubated under anaerobic conditions for 48–72 hours. The identification of the organisms was performed with API-20A (bioMérieux) and BBL Crystal Anaerobe (BD).

Results: One hundred forty-two positive anaerobic cultures during the three years study period were identified and included in the further analysis. The bacteria isolated were: Bacteroides spp. 46/142 (32.39%), Peptostreptococcus 45/142 (31.69%), Clostridium spp. 21/142 (14.78%), Bifidobacterium 15/142 (10.6%), Actinomyces israeli 9/142 (6.33%), Propionibacterium 6/142 (4.22%).

Conclusions: Among the isolated anaerobic microorganisms the most common Gram-negative was Bacteroides spp. (32.39%), while the most common Gram-positive was Peptostreptococcus (31.69%). Even though the anaerobic microorganisms constitute a part of the normal flora of the human, they may cause severe and sometimes lethal infections. The appropriate conditions of sampling and transportation of the specimens are mandatory for the accurate evaluation of each patient.