ABSTRACT
The human body harbors a vast anaerobic microflora, both with regard to total numbers of anaerobes and various types of organisms. Many of these anaerobes are considered to be normal flora, but certain anaerobes are frequently associated with pathological condition and are designated to be clinically important anaerobes. Anaerobic bacteria are normally abundant in and on the patient's body and in his environment. Some of these organisms can cause an infection under the proper circumstances in certain body sites, while other anaerobes present in or on the body or in the environment are not commonly considered to be the cause of disease and are termed indigenous microflora. It should be recognized that not all anaerobic bacteria are equally sensitive to oxygen, and this is reflected in the terminology which describes varying degrees of anaerobiosis, such as strict anaerobe, moderate anaerobe, and aerotolerant anaerobe.
