Etiology of liver abscess with special reference to anaerobic bacteria

Specimens of pus from 78 patients with liver abscesses were cultured using anaerobic culture techniques in an attempt to ascertain the etiologic role of anaerobes. Bacteria were isolated from 28 of the 78 specimens, 9 with anaerobes and or microaerophilic streptococci. Two pus specimens yielded mixed growth. Fourteen liver abscess pus specimens were subjected to direct gas liquid chromatography for detection of volatile and nonvolatile fatty acids (VFA/NVFA). Two of the 3 specimens positive for multiple VFA were bacteriologically sterile--an indirect evidence of the presence of anaerobic bacteria at the site of infection bringing the number of patients with anaerobic infection to 11 (14.1%).