Bacteroides fragilis


Bac·te·roi·des frag·'i·lis

a bacterial species found in human and animal intestinal tracts. Although it represents only about 10-20% of Bacteroides species found in the colon, it is the primary species associated with intraabdominal abscesses and other subdiaphragmatic infections in humans, including peritonitis, rectal abscess, abdominal surgical wounds, and urogenital tract infection. Its capsule is capable of inducing abscess formation independently; characteristically, this species produces a β-lactamase that inactivates β-lactam antibiotics such as the penicillin and cephalosporin groups; it is the type species of the genus, Bacteroides.

Bacteroides fragilis

A gram-negative anaerobe which is a frequent isolate in anaerobic cultures; it is associated with abscesses, aspiration pneumonia, endocarditis, septic arthritis and empyema.

Bacteroides fragilis

Microbiology A gram-negative anaerobe which is a frequent isolate in anaerobic cultures; it is associated with abscesses, aspiration pneumonia, endocarditis, septic arthritis and empyema

Bac·te·roi·des frag·i·lis

(bak-tēr-oy'dēz fraj'i-lis) A species that is one of the predominant organisms in the lower intestinal tract of humans and other animals; also found in specimens from appendicitis, peritonitis, rectal abscesses, pilonidal cysts, surgical wounds, and lesions of the urogenital tract. It is the type species of the genus Bacteroides.