Bacterial infections of salivary glands

Bacterial infections of the salivary glands are most often seen in the setting of diminished salivary function. In uncompromised individuals, such infections are rare. With the widespread use of prophylactic antibiotics and better maintenance of fluid balance, even the postoperative patient rarely presents with bacterial sialadenitis. The major recent advance in knowledge in this area is the recognition of the pathogenic role of gram-negative facultative anaerobes and strict anaerobic organisms in bacterial infections of salivary glands.