General microbiology - viruses, bacteria, fungi >>>> Anaerobic infection

Anaerobic infection.

Infectious processes initiated by anaerobic microorganisms (prokaryotes, fungi and protozoa) capable of maintaining vital activity and multiplying without oxygen access are called "anaerobic infection". Anaerobic microorganisms are divided into two types: clostridia and non-clostridial microorganisms. Clostridia are spore-forming bacteria and can survive in the presence of oxygen; therefore, Clostridial infections are considered the most dangerous. Clostridia, unlike other anaerobes, are the most stable in the external environment and are able to survive even when boiled for an hour. Non-clostridial microorganisms - non-spore-forming (gram-positive and gram-negative), die in the presence of oxygen within two hours. Some facultative microorganisms – aerobes under certain conditions, they can change metabolism from aerobic to anaerobic (E. coli, staphylococci, proteus, streptococci).

Many dangerous infectious diseases are caused precisely by anaerobes: gas gangrene, gangrenous appendicitis, tetanus, botulism, food poisoning, postoperative and postpartum infections, wound infections, abscess, sepsis, peritonitis, etc. Anaerobes secrete toxic substances that cause poisoning of the body, tissue necrosis. Tissues that are deprived of blood supply, and therefore oxygen (for example, during hypoxia, as a result of large blood loss or shock, in violation of blood flow as a result of crushing of tissues), are especially quickly affected.

Anaerobic infection can proceed with lightning speed or be acute (subacute) in nature. The cause of anaerobic infection can be trauma with a violation of the integrity of tissues, burns , injections, surgery. Soft tissues, organs, cavities, and bone tissue are affected.

The immune system plays an important role in resisting anaerobic infection , therefore, chronic or congenital diseases that reduce immune responses create prerequisites for the development of anaerobic infection. Medicines that weaken the immune system also contribute to the rapid colonization of the body by anaerobes.

Treatment of anaerobic infection is always complex and is based on drug therapy and surgical intervention in the focus of infection. During surgical intervention, tissues are cut deep enough, reaching unchanged tissue sites. Necrotic and dead tissues are excised, the wound is treated with antiseptics and proteolytic enzymes corresponding to the identified strain of the pathogen . Therapeutic treatment includes broad-spectrum antibiotics, to which anaerobes are sensitive, depending on the identified strain. At the same time, immunostimulating drugs are prescribed and detoxification measures are taken.