Anaerobic bacteria in routine urine culture.

One hundred and fifty-eight anaerobic organisms from 147 patients were isolated from 15,250 consecutive clean mid-stream or catheter urine specimens. The pathogenicity of the anaerobic genera commonly isolated from urine is reviewed and discussed. Failure to establish anaerobic isolates as pathogens and a paucity of reported cases proving anaerobic bacteria as significant causes of urinary tract infection permitted discontinuation of anaerobic culture as part of the routine screening procedure for investigation of urinary tract infections.