Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 3, 2026
11:13
Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment
Published on: September 14, 2013
Infection with clindamycin-resistant bacteroides uniformis
Chemotherapy
|January 1, 1985
Summary
A Bacteroides uniformis infection resistant to clindamycin led to amputation in a patient. This case highlights the first documented high-level clindamycin resistance in this bacterial species, impacting treatment options.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Osteomyelitis is a serious bone infection that can be challenging to treat.
- Bacteroides uniformis is an anaerobic bacterium commonly found in the human gut.
- Clindamycin is an antibiotic frequently used to treat various bacterial infections.
Observation:
- A patient with osteomyelitis presented with an infection caused by Bacteroides uniformis.
- The isolated strain of Bacteroides uniformis exhibited high-level resistance to clindamycin.
- The patient's infection did not respond to intravenous clindamycin treatment.
Findings:
- This is the first reported case of high-level clindamycin resistance in a clinical isolate of Bacteroides uniformis.
- The antibiotic resistance in this strain of B. uniformis complicated the management of osteomyelitis.
- Failure to respond to clindamycin ultimately necessitated limb amputation for the patient.
Implications:
- This case underscores the emerging threat of antibiotic resistance in common bacteria.
- Clinicians should consider clindamycin resistance in Bacteroides uniformis when treating infections.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and prevalence of clindamycin resistance in B. uniformis.
Related Concept Videos
00:57Antibiotic Selection
Overview
01:26Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota
The phylum Bacteroidota includes over 700 species classified into four primary orders: Bacteroidales, Cytophagales, Flavobacteriales, and Sphingobacteriales. These gram-negative, non-sporulating rods exhibit saccharolytic capabilities and can be aerobic or fermentative, encompassing obligate aerobes, facultative aerobes, and obligate anaerobes. Many species display gliding motility, though some are nonmotile or use flagella. The genus Bacteroides is well-studied due to its significant role in...
01:24Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes
The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
01:18Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiota
The human gut microbiome includes a diverse array of microbial species, including beneficial commensals and opportunistic pathogens, which interact to support host health. These microbes contribute to essential functions such as nutrient metabolism, immune system modulation, and maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity. However, disruptions to this equilibrium—referred to as dysbiosis—can have widespread physiological consequences.Dysbiosis is often characterized by reduced microbial...
01:25Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...