Bacteroides

This term is a taxonomic designation used primarily in microbiology and clinical medicine. It refers to a specific genus of bacteria, and as such, it is used as a proper noun in scientific nomenclature. In a clinical setting, it is almost always paired with a specific species name, such as Bacteroides fragilis, to identify the exact causative agent of an infection.

Because it is a Latinized taxonomic name, it functions as a collective noun for the genus. In scientific writing, it is treated as a singular entity when referring to the genus itself, though it may be used in a plural sense when referring to the various species within that genus.