[Pathogenic role of anaerobic bacteria in postoperative patients with digestive system surgery]

The cases of patients with anaerobic organisms were collected for a period of one year from the results of bacteriological examinations sent to the Bacteriology Laboratory and from the file of operation reports of all the gastrointestinal surgery performed at the University Surgical Clinic of Amiens. The authors wanted to determine whether the anaerobic bacteria were really responsible for the infections observed, whether they acted alone or in association, what antibiotics should be used specifically against them, and what was the incidence of the initial infection in the discovery of the anaerobic organisms. It was found that the rate of infectious complications was higher in men than in pre-menopausal women and higher in emergency operations than in routine scheduled operations. Overall, it seems that the anaerobic bacteria, considered individually, do not have an important pathogenic action. They are widespread saprophytes which are present before the post-operative immune depression. It is their extraordinary development under certain local conditions and their association with other organisms which explain their pathological emergencies.