Anaerobic infection of the lung and pleural space in tuberculosis

Prevalence of anaerobic bacterial infection in 120 sputum positive cases of pleuro-pulmonary tuberculosis was found to be 53.3 per cent-either as pure or mixed with aerobes. Bacteroides fragilis and B. Melaninogenicus were isolated in 19 (26.6%) and 12 (18.72%) cases respectively. Sensitivity studies showed that these were most sensitive to metronidazole followed by rifampicin and kanamycin. The possibility of anaerobic infection may be considered in patients of pulmonary tuberculosis who do not respond to routine treatment.