%0 Journal Article %A Reilly, Sheena %T THE CARBON DIOXIDE REQUIREMENTS OF ANAEROBIC BACTERIA %D 1980 %J Journal of Medical Microbiology, %V 13 %N 4 %P 573-579 %@ 1473-5644 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/00222615-13-4-573 %I Microbiology Society, %X SUMMARY Some clinically significant anaerobic bacteria were incubated in pure culture in anaerobic jars containing a range of atmospheric concentrations of CO2. Growth of Clostridium perfringens, C. sporogenes and C. septicum was independent of the amount of CO2. Small supplements of CO2 (0.25%) allowed good growth of the majority of anaerobes studied—an observation contrary to established teaching. The exceptions were Fusobacterium necrophorum which showed an absolute requirement for CO2 of at least 1% and B. melaninogenicus which needed an atmospheric content of 10–40% CO2 for optimal growth. The inclusion of CO2 in the anaerobic jar at a final concentration of 10% is to be recommended for all routine isolation procedures. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/00222615-13-4-573