Is the term "anti-anaerobic" still relevant?

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology

Background:

• The term "anti-anaerobic" traditionally describes antibiotics active against anaerobic bacteria.
• This classification is used for both specific pathogen infections and polymicrobial infections where causative agents are often unidentified.
• Empirical antimicrobial treatment is common in such scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-evaluate the concept of the anti-anaerobic spectrum.
• To consider recent advances in human microbiota research.
• To challenge the clinical and ecological relevance of the current anti-anaerobic classification.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of recent findings in microbiota research.
• Analysis of the diversity within anaerobic bacterial communities.
• Examination of antibiotic susceptibility profiles of anaerobic bacteria.

Main Results:

• The term "anaerobic" encompasses a vast and diverse range of bacterial species.
• Antibiotic susceptibility data for a majority of anaerobic bacteria are lacking.
• Current understanding of the anti-anaerobic spectrum may not accurately reflect clinical and ecological realities.

Conclusions:

• The broad term "anti-anaerobic" inadequately represents the diversity of anaerobic bacteria.
• There is a significant gap in knowledge regarding the antibiotic susceptibility of many anaerobic species.
• The clinical and ecological utility of the "anti-anaerobic" spectrum requires critical reassessment.