DECISION-PROCESS FOR ANTIBIOTIC-THERAPY IN INFECTIONS DUE TO BACTEROIDES-FRAGILIS - RESULTS OF A MULTICENTER SURVEY STUDY

A nationwide survey on epidemiological and clinical data for infections including Bacteroides fragilis group of organisms was undertaken in France in 1991. Seventy centers participated in the study. In order to reach the objectives of the survey, ratio of sensitivity for 5 antibiotics were established, and consequences of laboratory data on drug prescription were analyzed. Results, for 448 Bacteroides fragilis isolated from blood samples, indicated that no specific relationship could be established between microbiological data and subsequent therapy of infection : clindamycin was tested in 75 % of laboratories, but not prescribed ; amoxicilline/clavulanic acid was often tested (96,4 %) and prescribed (34,6 %). Metronidazole always appeared as reference therapy in France. Mortality rate increased as a consequence of non adjusted therapy of Bacteroides fragilis infection.