Obligate anaerobes

Question 1

What are obligate anaerobes?

Answer 1

Bugs that lack catalase and/or superoxide dismutase and are thus susceptible to oxidative damage.

Question 2

Name the 3 obligate anaerobes.

Answer 2

Anaerobes Can’t Breathe Air

1. Clostridium
2. Bacteroides
3. Actinomyces

Question 3

What are the characteristics of obligate anaerobes?

Answer 3

1. Generally foul smelling (short-chain fattty acids)
2. Difficult to culture
3. Produce gas in tissue (CO2 and H2)

Question 4

Are anaerobes normal flora in GI tract?

Answer 4

yes, but pathogenic elsewhere

Question 5

Why is aminoglycoside ineffective against anaerobes?

Answer 5

B/c AminO2glycoside are ineffective against anaerobes b/c these antibiotics require O2 to enter into bacterial cell.