ABSTRACT
The family Bacteroidaceae consists of gram-negative non-spore-forming anaerobic bacilli that constitute one of the major groups of anaerobes that function effectively as class III anaerobes (obligate anaerobes). These bacteria can be differentiated from other organisms of this schema by morphology, biochemical characteristics, and identification of metabolic end products by gas liquid chromatography. The Bacteroides, Prevotella, and the fusobacteria are the most commonly found organisms of this group. Because of shared characteristics, Bacteroides and Prevotella species are grouped together. Morphologically, Bacteroides and Prevotella appear as rods with rounded ends or as coccobacilli. Fusobacteria are generally characterized by long, thin fusiform shapes or extremely pleomorphic spherical forms.Therapeutically, the Bacteroides/Prevotella species can be subdivided for pragmatic purposes into the penicillin-sensitive and the non-penicillin-sensitive organisms.
