ANAEROBIC GRAM NEGATIVE RODS BACTEROIDES

FUSOBACTERIUM PORPHYROMONAS PREVOTELLA

The most important G- anaerobic rods that colonise URT (upper respiratory
tract), GI, genital & urinary tracts are rods in the genera Bacteroides,
Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas & Prevotella. Anaerobes are the predominant
bacteria at each of these sites. There is an amazing amount of diversity: 500
spp colonise just the periodontal pocket, and many of these are anaerobic.
However, most IFI (infections) are caused only by few spp.

Bacteroides B. fragilis, B. thetaiotaomicron

Fusobacterium F. nucleatum, F. necrophorum
Porphyromonas P. asaccharolytica, P. gingivalis
Prevotella P.intermedia, P.melaninogenica, P.bivia, P.disiens

They can be grouped based on the anatomical site of IFI:

Head&Neck IFI bacteroides urealyticus; F. nucleatus, F. necrophorum;

P. asaccharolytica, P.gingivalis; P.intermedia, P. melaninogenica
Intraabdominal IFI B.fragilis, B.thetaiotaomicron; P.melaninogenica
Gynecologic IFI B. fragilis; P. bivia, P. disiens
Skin&Soft Tissue IFI B.fragilis
Bacteremia B.fragilis, B.thetaiotaomicron; Fusobacterium spp.

Plaut-Vincent angina acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG), also

called trench mouth (because it was common in soldiers in trenches in WWI). It
is caused by a mix of fusobacterium and treponema vincentii.
Diagnosis microscope, culture (first into anaerobic enrichment medium, then
into subculture at 35-37 C x 2-4 days)
Treatment metronidazole, clindamycin & cloramphenicol