Applications of gas chromatography in the diagnosis of anaerobic infections

The isolation and identification of anaerobic bacteria by biochemical tests take long time, so it is very useful the gas-chromatography to detect the volatile fatty acids produced from their metabolism. This technique can give rapidly a presumptive diagnosis of anaerobic infection so that it is possible to start immediately a correct antibiotic therapy. In this study we have examined many samples of pus and exudate, and the results have been compared with those obtained from the culture. We have found a good correlation between the detection by gas-chromatography of isobutyric and butyric acids and the isolation in the culture of anaerobic flora, and particularly of Bacteroides fragilis when the gas-chromatography detected isobutyric, butyric and succinic acids.