The anaerobic and aerobic bacterial flora of leg ulcers in patients with sickle-cell disease.

Leg ulcers in 26 patients with sickle-cell disease (SCD) were studied bacteriologically over a period of 6 months. The average age of the patients was 20.92 years and the mean duration of the ulcers was 3.43 years. In order of frequency, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacteroides melaninogenicus were the predominant organisms. Anaerobes were isolated from 14 (54%) of 26 patients and represent 21% of the total 77 isolates. The presence of anaerobes correlated well with odorous ulcers. Isolation of anaerobes from leg ulcers of patients with SCD has added to knowledge of bacterial infection in SCD.