The term â??aerobic bacteriaâ? is assigned to organisms strictly requiring oxygen in order to survive; these type of aerobes are also referred to as obligate aerobes. Conversely, anaerobic bacteria do not require oxygen, cannot grow in oxygen's presence and are referred to as obligate anaerobes. Some bacteria, by the process of adaptation, are able to grow with or without oxygen; they are referred to as facultative anaerobes. Examples of obligate aerobic bacteria are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Nocardia and the Anthrax bacillus.
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an obligate aerobe most often found in moist environments such as soil, water and plant life. The aerobe is an opportunistic pathogen in hospital settings, especially to those with impaired immune systems due to acute or chronic medical conditions. Todarâ??s Online Textbook of Bacteriology reports pseudomonas aeruginosa are aerobic bacteria that may be isolated in virtually any body site infection, including but not limited to the urinary tract, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and soft tissue infections.
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, also known as TB, is an obligate aerobe that usually attacks the lungs, but it can invade any part of the body, including organs, brain, bones and spine. Tuberculosis is transmitted from person to person when someone with active tuberculosis coughs, sneezes or forcefully expels the bacillus into the air and others inhale it into their lungs. TB was once the leading cause of death in the United States, but due to the availability of extensive antibiotic treatment options and progressive public health surveillance programs, rates have declined substantially. Unfortunately, TB has infected one third of the world population and is the most prevalent cause of death in people infected with HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Nocardia
Nocardia is an obligate aerobe found in the soil; the bacteria may cause lung infections when inhaled, especially to those with weakened immune systems. The disease may spread to the brain, skin and other organs and requires extensive and lengthy antimicrobial treatment.
Anthrax Bacillus
The spore-forming Anthrax bacillus is an obligate aerobe. Infection with the Anthrax bacillus may occur from handling Anthrax infected animals or by inhaling its spores; the bacillus is not transmitted from person to person. There are three types of Anthrax: cutaneous, gastrointestinal and inhalation. According to the CDC, cutaneous Antrax is highly curable with antibiotics; gastrointestinal and inhalation are more difficult to treat but do respond to antibiotic treatment in about half of the cases. The CDC classifies Anthrax as a category A agent of bioterrorism.
