bacteroides fragilis-associated intra-abdominal abscess following penetrating trauma

Background: bacteroides fragilis is a clinically significant anaerobic bacterium known to cause abdominal infections, abscesses, sepsis, and skin and soft tissue infections. we report a case of an intra-abdominal wound infection following a penetrating injury, attributed to b. fragilis.methods: foul-smelling pus from the abdominal wound was collected and sent for anaerobic culture using robertson's cooked meat medium. gram staining and culture were performed on blood agar supplemented with haemin and vitamin k1. the sample's gram stain revealed gram-negative bacilli.results: colony growth was observed on blood agar after 48 hours and was identified as b. fragilis through phenotypic biochemical tests, maldi-tof ms, and real-time pcr. the patient was successfully managed with metronidazole.conclusion: prompt diagnosis and early treatment were crucial in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with this infection.