Bacteriology of acute appendicitis with special reference to anaerobes

Bacterial flora of 105 patients of acute appendicitis of which 101 showed acute inflammation and 4 a normal appendix, was studied. A total of 121 anaerobes and 149 aerobes were isolated with an average of 1.15 anaerobes and 1.41 aerobes per specimen. Mixed flora was found in 100 (95.2%) specimens. Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli were the most predominant anaerobes and aerobes respectively and their combination was most frequently seen. There were no significant differences in the rate of isolation of B. fragilis between the perforated/non perforated and inflamed/normal appendices. Hundred percent anaerobes were sensitive to clindamycin and 93.38% to metronidazole.