Recurrent anaerobic skin abscesses.

20 adult patients (17 women) presented axillary, gluteal, external genital, breast and groin abscesses. Anaerobic bacteria were isolated in 10 cases; Peptococcus magnus in 8. staphylococcus aureus was the sole organism in 2 cases, skin flora (Staphylococcus epidermidis) in 6. No bacteria were isolated from 2 patients. The Staph. aureus were mainly phage group III strains or nontypable. It is apparent that these kinds of skin infections comprise a special group with regard to epidemiology and etiology.