Robert M. Swenson

Development of anaerobic fecal flora in healthy newborn infants

Stool samples from 196 healthy infants less than ten days of age were cultured to delineate bacterial colonization patterns of the intestine. By one week of age, isolation rates of Bacteroides fragilis and other anaerobic bacteria in term infants following vaginal delivery and formula feeding approach that of adults. Differences in gestational age, type of delivery, and type of feeding are associated with significantly different colonization patterns of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria in the first week after birth.

The bacteriology of intra-abdominal infections.

Intra-abdominal infections are commonly closed space infections, and the primary mode of therapy is surgical drainage and removal of necrotic tissue. However, the importance of appropriate antimicrobial therapy is not to be underemphasized.

Listeria Meningitis During Cefazolin Therapy

Excerpt Suboptimal response of meningitis to cephalothin therapy (1-2) and actual development of meningitis during cephalothin therapy (3) have been reported. We recently observed a patient who dev...

Carbenicillin in the Treatment of Infections Involving Anaerobic Bacteria

Twenty-one patients with serious infections involving anaerobic bacteria were treated with carbenicillin. Multiple anaerobes were involved in 8 cases, and in 10 cases, facultative anaerobes were also isolated. Bacteroides fragilis was isolated in 10 cases. Results were judged excellent in 7 cases, good in 8 cases, and fair in 5 cases. These data suggest that carbenicillin may be an effective antibiotic for the therapy of infections due to anaerobic bacteria, particularly those involving B. fragilis.

The Lessons of Belle Glade

Excerpt The article by Grey (1) in this issue ofAnnalsdocuments the striking similarities between two epidemics that occurred in Belle Glade, Florida, some 40 years apart. The first was a syphilis ...