Vol 49, No 2 (2011)
Original paper
Published online: 2011-07-11
Anaerobic bacteria colonizing the lower airways in lung cancer patients
DOI: 10.5603/FHC.2011.0036
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2011;49(2):263-266.
Abstract
Anaerobes comprise most of the endogenous oropharyngeal microflora, and can cause infections of
airways in lung cancer patients who are at high risk for respiratory tract infections. The aim of this study was to
determine the frequency and species diversity of anaerobes in specimens from the lower airways of lung cancer
patients. Sensitivity of the isolates to conventional antimicrobial agents used in anaerobe therapy was assessed.
Respiratory secretions obtained by bronchoscopy from 30 lung cancer patients were cultured onto Wilkins-
-Chalgren agar in anaerobic conditions at 37°C for 72–96 hours. The isolates were identified using microtest Api
20A. The minimal inhibitory concentrations for penicillin G, amoxicillin/clavulanate, piperacillin/tazobactam,
cefoxitin, imipenem, clindamycin, and metronidazole were determined by E-test. A total of 47 isolates of anaerobic
bacteria were detected in 22 (73.3%) specimens. More than one species of anaerobe was found in 16
(53.3%) samples. The most frequently isolated were Actinomyces spp. and Peptostreptococcus spp., followed by
Eubacterium lentum, Veillonella parvula, Prevotella spp., Bacteroides spp., Lactobacillus jensenii. Among antibiotics
used in the study amoxicillin/clavulanate and imipenem were the most active in vitro (0% and 2% resistant
strains, respectively). The highest resistance rate was found for penicillin G and metronidazole (36% and
38% resistant strains, respectively). The results obtained confirm the need to conduct analyses of anaerobic
microflora colonizing the lower respiratory tract in patients with lung cancer to monitor potential etiologic
factors of airways infections, as well as to propose efficient, empirical therapy. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica
2011; Vol. 49, No. 2, pp. 263–266)
Keywords: anaerobeslower respiratory tractantimicrobial agent susceptibilitylung cancer
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