Diverticulitis is commonly caused by microbes from the colon, including E. coli and Bacteroides fragilis.

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Diverticulitis arises when inflamed diverticula in the colon become infected by the gut’s own bacteria. The usual culprits come from the colon’s microbial residents, especially E. coli and Bacteroides fragilis, reflecting the typical mix of enteric bacteria and anaerobes involved in these infections. That’s why antibiotics for diverticulitis are chosen to cover both aerobic Gram-negative rods and anaerobes found in the colon. The idea that viruses always cause it or that bacteria never do, or that fungi are the exclusive cause, doesn’t fit the common pattern. So, this statement correctly describes the usual etiology as being due to microbes from the colon, including E. coli and Bacteroides fragilis.