title: Role of anaerobic bacteria in subdural empyema. Report of four cases and review of 327 cases from the English literature.
abstract: Anaerobic bacteria were isolated from the subdural space in all four cases of subdural empyema encountered over a 2 and a half year period. Only one aerobe was isolated in these cases. The bacteriology of subdural empyema was further analyzed from a review of 327 cases reported in the English literature. Anaerobes accounted for 12 per cent of 234 cases; In addition, 27 per cent of cases were reportedly "sterile." These data support our finding that anaerobic bacteria may play a far more important role in subdural empyema than was previously appreciated.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001442:Bacteroides Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008578:Meninges; D008712:Methicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010462:Peptostreptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013355:Subdural Space / Q000382:microbiology; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins; D002981:Clindamycin; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D000667:Ampicillin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D013752:Tetracycline; D008712:Methicillin