Gram-positive and Gram-negative anaerobes

"Gram-positive and Gram-negative anaerobes" refers collectively to bacterial species that do not require oxygen for growth and are categorized by their cell wall structure into Gram-positive or Gram-negative types using the Gram staining technique[1][7]. - Gram-positive anaerobes include genera such as Peptostreptococcus, Clostridium, and Actinomyces, generally characterized by a thick peptidoglycan layer in the cell wall[1][9]. - Gram-negative anaerobes include genera such as Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, and Prevotella, typically with a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane[1][7]. - These organisms are clinically significant causes of anaerobic infections (e.g., abscesses, bacteremia, tissue necrosis), often in mixed infections, and require antimicrobial susceptibility testing to guide therapy due to variable resistance patterns[2][5][6][8]. - They represent heterogeneous groups rather than a unique, targetable protein/receptor/molecule; thus, the term is not appropriate for molecular target databases.

Other names

Gram-positive anaerobic bacteriaGram-negative anaerobic bacteriaanaerobic bacteria

Inhibition of cell wall synthesis (e.g., beta-lactams); inhibition of protein synthesis (e.g., clindamycin, tetracyclines); DNA damage (e.g., metronidazole)