Bacteroides

Bacteroides /Bac·te·roi·des/ (bak″ter-oi´dēz) a genus of gram-negative, anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria, which are normal inhabitants of the oral, respiratory, intestinal, and urogenital cavities of humans and animals; some species can cause potentially fatal abscesses and bacteremias.

bacteroides /bac·te·roi·des/ (bak″ter-oi´dēz)

1. any highly pleomorphic rod-shaped bacteria.

2. an organism of the genus Bacteroides.

Bac·te·roi·des (b

-roi

A genus of gram-negative, anaerobic, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacteria that occur in the respiratory, intestinal, and urogenital tracts of warm-blooded animals and include some pathogenic species.

Bacteroides

[bak′təroi′dēz]

Etymology: Gk, bakterion, small staff, eidos, form

a genus of obligate anaerobic bacilli normally found in the colon, mouth, genital tract, and upper respiratory system. Severe infection may result from the invasion of the bacillus through a break in the mucous membrane into the venous circulation, where thrombosis and bacteremia may occur. Foul-smelling abscesses, gas, and putrefaction are characteristic of infection with this organism. Of the 30 species, Bacteroides fragilis is the most common and most virulent.

bacteriostatic (baktir´eōstat´ik),

adj preventing bacteria from growing and multiplying but possibly not killing them.

Bacteroides

n a genus of
Schizomycetes with rod-shaped, highly pleomorphic, gram-negative, nonspore-forming obligate anaerobic bacteria.

B. endodontalis

n a strain of
B. melaninogenicus associated with pulpal infections.

B. forsythus

n a recently identified strain found in periodontal pockets.

B. fragilis

n the most common and virulent strain, normally found in the oral cavity, upper respiratory system, colon, and genital tract.

B. gingivalis

n a strain of
B. melaninogenicus associated with acute periodontitis.

B. intermedius,

n a strain of
B. melaninogenicus associated with acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.

B. melaninogenicus

n a small, diplobacillus, also known as
B. melaninogenicum, found in the oral cavity and pharynx; sometimes associated with periodontitis.

Bacteroides

a genus of the family Bacteroidaceae, a family of gram-negative, non-spore-forming, obligate anaerobes. Common inhabitants of the alimentary tract and necrotic tissue, probably as secondary invaders.

Bacteroides amylophilus

see Ruminobacter amylophilus.

Bacteroides asaccharolyticus

see Porphyromonas.

Bacteroides fragilis

occasionally infects foals, pigs, lambs and calves, causing diarrhea, mastitis and abscesses.

Bacteroides gingivalis

see Porphyromonas.

Bacteroides heparinolyticus

see Prevotella.

Bacteroides levii

see Porphyromonaslevii.