Aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of superficial suppurative thrombophlebitis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the aerobic and anaerobic microbiologic characteristics of superficial suppurative thrombophlebitis.


METHODS
Retrospective review of microbiologic and clinical data.


METHODS
Navy Hospital in Bethesda, Md.


RESULTS
Sixty-one isolates, 36 aerobic and 25 anaerobic, were isolated from samples obtained from 42 patients. Aerobic bacteria only were found in 26 (62%) patients; anaerobic only, in 11 (26%); and mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, in five (12%). The predominant aerobic bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (n = 9), Escherichia coli (n = 7), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 4), and Klebsiella sp (n = 3). The most frequently recovered anaerobic bacteria were Peptostreptococcus sp (n = 8), Propionibacterium acnes (n = 6), Bacteroides fragilis group (n = 5), Prevotella intermedia (n = 3), and Fusobacterium nucleatum (n = 3). Propionibacterium acnes and Peptostreptococcus sp were associated with cannula-related superficial suppurative thrombophlebitis; B fragilis and Enterobacteriaceae, with abdominal surgery or pathology; and S aureus and P aeruginosa and Citrobacter sp, with burns.


CONCLUSIONS
These data illustrate the importance of anaerobic bacteria in superficial suppurative thrombophlebitis.
Department of Pediatrics, Naval Hospital, Bethesda, Md, USA.
I
I
Brook
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EH
Frazier
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013492:Suppuration / Q000382:microbiology; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*