title: Microbiology of infected pilonidal sinuses.
abstract: Aspirates of pus from infected pilonidal sinuses in 75 patients showed bacterial growth. Anaerobic bacteria only were recovered in 58 (77%) specimens, aerobic bacteria only in three (4%), and mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in 14 (19%). Two hundred and nine isolates were recovered: 147 anaerobes (2.0 isolates a specimen) and 62 aerobes (0.8 a specimen). The predominant anaerobes were Bacteroides sp (81 isolates, including 29 Bacteroides fragilis group) and 51 anaerobic cocci. The predominant aerobes were Escherichia coli (n = 15), Proteus sp (n = 9), group D streptococcus (n = 7), and Pseudomonas sp (n = 7). This study highlights the polymicrobial nature and predominance of anaerobic bacteria in infected pilonidal sinuses.
authors.affiliation: Naval Hospital, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brook
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D001442:Bacteroides Infections; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000382:microbiology*