Study of bacteria isolated from infections of the oral and maxillofacial region. Part 2. Anaerobes.

Eighty-six cases of obstructed abscesses in the oral and maxillofacial region were studied bacteriologic ally.Isolated anaerobic organisms were identified in detail and assessed with regard to antimicrobial susceptibility to several agents. Anaerobes were isolated from approximately 95% of cases that had isolated organisms. Gram-positive cocci, including Peptostreptococcus and Gemella, and gram-negative rods, including Prevotella, Porphyromonas, and Fusobacterium, were isolated frequently. As for antimicrobial susceptibility, some strains of Prevotella were resistant to β-lactam agents. In particular, many strains of Fusobacterium were resistant to erythromycin. Clindamycin and levofloxacin were highly active against anaerobes isolated from infections in the oral and maxillofacial region.Our results suggest that anaerobes as well as Streptococcus should be considered when treating infections in the oral and maxillofacial region.