Intravenous trimethoprim/sulphadimidine in the treatment of Bacteroides septicaemia.

The name Bacteroides is used to describe a group of Gram-negative bacilli which are non-sporing obligate anaerobes (Wilson and Miles, 1964). Their natural habitat is the large intestine, mouth, and vagina. Bacteroides septicaemia is becoming increasingly well recognized as a complication of gastrointestinal and gynaecological surgery. Patients with underlying malignancy or prior antibiotic therapy are predisposed to this condition (Bodner, Koenig and Goodman, 1970). In a survey by Okubadejo, Green and Payne (1973), twenty-nine strains of B. fragilis were tested against co-trimoxazole—all were found to be sensitive. One of the disadvantages of co-trimoxazole has been the absence of a parenteral form for use in seriously ill patients in whom oral administration is not practicable. We report the use of intravenous trimethoprim/sulphadimidine in two cases of septicaemia due to Bacteroides infection.