Bacteria
Bacteroides fragilis
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Bacteroides fragilis
See Also
Bacteroidaceae
Gram Negative Bacteria
Pathophysiology
Bacteroides fragilis are obligate anaerobic
Gram Negative Rod
s in the
Bacteroidaceae
family
Bacteroides fragilis has a capsule
Bacteroides fragilis secretes an
Enterotoxin
(BFT)
However, does not contain
Lipid
A or
Endotoxin
(unlike most other
Gram Negative Bacteria
)
Bacteroides fragilis is a normal colonizer of the
Gastrointestinal Tract
(25% of intestinal flora)
Low virulence unless intestinal wall is perforated
May also be associated with
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
flares
Associated Conditions
Bacteroides fragilis rarely colonizes the mouth (uncommon cause of
Aspiration Pneumonia
)
Intraabdominal anaerobic
Bacterial Infection
s and abscesses
Bacteroides fragilis is found in most intraabdominal anaerobic infections
Among the most commonly isolated
Bacteria
in anaerobic bacteremia
Occurs with
Bowel
perforation,
Mesenteric Ischemia
,
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
,
Septic Abortion
Wound Infection
s
Diabetic Foot Infection
s or chronic
Pressure Ulcer
s
Necrotizing Fasciitis
Management
Source control with abscess drainage
Antibiotic
s with highest efficacy against Bacteroides fragilis (lower resistance rates)
Piperacillin Tazobactam
(zosyn)
Meropenem
Metronidazole
Antibiotic
s with high Bacteroides fragilis resistance rates (low susceptibility)
Cefoxitin
Moxifloxacin
Clindamycin
Prognosis
Bacteroides fragilis bacteremia is associated with mortality as high as 30%
Resources
lsaghir (2023) Bacteroides fragilis, StatPearls, Treasure Island, Fl
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553032/
References
Patrick (2022) Microbiology 168(4) +PMID: 35404220 [PubMed]
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