Anaerobic bacteria are organisms that are capable of surviving and growing in an atmosphere of little or no oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria can be further broken down based on their relationship to oxygen: obligate, aerotolerant or facultative...
Bacteria exist in some of the most inhospitable environments imaginable to humans. Oxygen does not get used by anaerobic bacteria. Aerobic bacteria use oxygen as the final electron acceptor to complete this process. In the case of anaerobic...
Sinuses are hollow, air-filled cavities in the human skull. They're connected to the nasal passages and help insulate the skull and amplify the voice. Anaerobic sinus infections are the inflammation of sinuses caused by anaerobic bacteria---those...
A healthy vagina hosts several types of bacteria living in a balanced state. When the balance tips and certain anaerobic (non-oxygen dependent) bacteria predominate, you might notice irritating vaginal symptoms. Bacterial vaginosis can be sexually...
Bacterial vaginosis results from an overpopulation of anaerobic bacteria that displaces the normal resident bacteria of the vagina, Lactobacillus acidophilus. Antibiotic treatments for bacterial vaginosis include metronidazole and clindomycin,...
Oral plaque is a common dental problem which causes a film to appear on the teeth. Oral plaque is the result of inadequate brushing and flossing and can cause serious problems. Plaque can be visualized by staining it with special dyes, which can...
Plaque is a substance that forms in the mouth, creating a sticky, water-resistant barrier that prevents air and water from penetrating the gums. When plaque forms, it creates an ideal environment for anaerobic bacteria, or bacteria that lives in...
Like most infections, acne pus is a simple infection caused by overproduction of a certain type of bacteria that thrive on your skin's natural oils. Propionibacterium acnes is similar to other anaerobic bacteria that cause bad smells in our...
Bacterial vaginosis results when the normally predominant aerobic bacteria in the vagina, Lactobacillus acidophilus, is replaced by an over-population of the usually low-level resident anaerobic bacteria like Gardnerella vaginalis and Mycoplasma...
Cancer of the colon develops from benign adenomas, or polyps, that project into the bowel lumen. Most polyps do not progress to cancer, but a small percentage do. It takes approximately 10 years for an adenoma to become cancer. Certain foods can...
Gardnerella vaginalis is one of a number of bacteria including Mycoplasma hominis and several anaerobic organisms that cause the bacterial vaginosis syndrome characterized by a fishy smelling and white vaginal discharge, according to "Harrison's...
Hydrogen peroxide be both beneficial and harmful to skin. In dilute concentrations on open wounds, hydrogen peroxide can prevent infections. In contrast, on otherwise healthy skin, hydrogen peroxide can cause irritation, allergic reactions, and...
Fournier's gangrene is an uncommon disease of the male genital area and sometimes the lower section of the abdomen, according to the "Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery." Anaerobic bacteria and fungi cause Fournier's disease, which...
Diverticulosis is the disease process that occurs in the large intestine when a diveriticulum--a small bulging sack protruding from the large intestinal wall--becomes ruptured. You may begin to feel pain in the abdomen. You can have...
The most important function of a septic system is to render the bacteria in human waste harmless. In a traditional system, water flushes waste into a septic tank where anaerobic bacteria, those requiring no oxygen, break the waste down and then...
Diverticulitis is a disease in which small pouches in the lining of the colon that bulge outward, known as diverticulum, become inflamed, infected or rupture. This results in an infection of the surrounding tissues. Diverticulitis can also cause...
A normal, healthy vagina secretes odorless discharge. Smelly discharge is a sign that something is wrong. Most commonly, odors from vaginal discharge are caused by vaginitis or vaginosis, an inflammation of the cells lining the vagina (vaginal...
Bacteria refer to single-celled microscopic organisms. Bacteria exist in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are measured in micrometers (a millionth part of meter). These tiny organisms can be found anywhere in the environment. Before the advent...
Septic tanks capture wastewater and treat it with anaerobic bacteria to make it safe to discharge. Anaerobic bacteria function in environments without oxygen, such as a septic tank. Waste material is separated into three components in the tank:...
Septic systems are designed to treat human waste by a natural progression through plumbing, a buried septic tank and underground drainfields. Bacteria in the septic tank and the drainfields break down the harmful pathogens in solid and liquid...
It might not be pretty but everyone gets it to some extent at some time. Morning breath occurs because bacteria builds up in the mouth. Usually our saliva helps reduce bacteria by washing food particles and bacteria away. While we sleep saliva...
Bacterial vaginosis is a condition that combines an overgrowth of bacteria and a change of pH in the vagina. The primary symptom of this condition is a vaginal discharge, however, many women who have this condition do not notice any symptoms....
Stinky morning breath--it happens to everyone. Bad breath comes with the sun, even when you brushed and flossed your teeth before bed and regardless of what you ate the previous day. Foul morning breath results from natural processes while you...
Bacterial vaginosis occurs due to an overgrowth of unhealthy anaerobic bacteria and the loss of the healthy bacteria Lactobacillus in the vaginal tract. This infection with unhealthy bacteria can only come about when the vagina changes pH from its...
Acne is an inflammatory skin condition that leads to breakouts of pimples. Excessive amounts of oil prevent dead skin cells from shedding, which then accumulate and clog pores. These clogged pores can become red and inflamed, and they allow...
Metronidazole, a prescription medicine marketed as Flagyl and available as oral, injection and topical forms, is used to treat infections from unusual bacteria, called anaerobic bacteria (such as bacteroides), and from protozoa. Infections treated...
Tonsillitis is a common disorder that mainly affects children from the age of 5 to 15 years old, according to Dr. Paul Weinberger of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at the Medical College of Georgia in Current Diagnosis & Treatment:...
Gardnerella is a kind of bacteria responsible for a condition called vaginitis, according to a December 2004 article in the "American Family Physician." Gardnerella vaginalis in particular can cause various symptoms to occur during infection....
Salmonella is a gram negative facultative intracellular anaerobic bacteria that causes foodborne illnesses. Salmonella causes a wide spectrum of disease including gastroenteritis, enteric fever and bacteremia. Antibiotics such as cefotaxime,...