ABSTRACT
Pulmonary infections due to anaerobic bacteria usually occur in individuals who are prone
to aspiration of their oral secretions or gastric contents because of impaired cough reflex.
This tendency can be due to tracheoesophageal malformations, central nervous system
disorders, debilitation, and temporary or permanent altered consciousness (1). Neurologi-
cally impaired individuals are especially prone to develop lower respiratory tract infections
that originate from their endogenous bacterial flora because of several predisposing factors
(Table 1).
