Actinomycosis - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

Actinomycosis is a rare, pyogenic granulomatous, subacute to chronic infection caused by actinomycetes. Actinomycetes are a group of anaerobic gram-positive bacteria with high guanine-cytosine content found as natural flora of the oral cavity.
The most frequent features are ulcer and granuloma formation, and the presence of multiple abscesses and sinus tracts that may discharge sulfur granules. The pathogens often spread into neighboring tissues.
Actinomycetes often invade the body by microfissures, and the most common clinical form of actinomycosis is cervicofacial, either after oral surgery or caused by poor dental hygiene. Thoracic and abdominal actinomycoses also occur frequently, and pelvic actinomycosis is possible in women.
Prolonged antibiotic treatment is necessary.

Example of the clinical picture of a cervicofacial actinomycosis

From the collection of Dr Juergen Ervens, Head, Department of Oral and Plastic Maxillofacial Surgery, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, CBF, Berlin, Germany

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Definition

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Etiology

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Images

Example of the clinical picture of a cervicofacial actinomycosis
Periodic acid-Schiff stain of a mass of actinomycetes in a lymph node

Citations

Key Articles

Smego RA Jr, Foglia G. Actinomycosis. Clin Infect Dis. 1998 Jun;26(6):1255-61.[Abstract]
Acevedo F, Baudrand R, Letelier LM, et al. Actinomycosis: a great pretender: case reports of unusual presentations and a review of the literature. Int J Infect Dis. 2008 Jul;12(4):358-62.[Abstract]
Wong VK, Turmezei TD, Weston VC. Actinomycosis. BMJ. 2011 Oct 11;343:d6099.[Abstract]
Martin MV. The use of oral amoxycillin for the treatment of actinomycosis: a clinical and in vitro study. Br Dent J. 1984 Apr 7;156(7):252-4.[Abstract]
Spilsbury BW, Johnstone FR. The clinical course of actinomycotic infections: a report of 14 cases. Can J Surg. 1962 Jan;5:33-48.[Abstract]
Sudhakar SS, Ross JJ. Short-term treatment of actinomycosis: two cases and a review. Clin Infect Dis. 2004 Feb 1;38(3):444-7.[Abstract][Full Text]
Bennhoff DF. Actinomycosis: diagnostic and therapeutic considerations and a review of 32 cases. Laryngoscope. 1984 Sep;94(9):1198-217.[Abstract]

Referenced Articles

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33. Atespare A, Keskin G, Ercin C, et al. Actinomycosis of the tongue: a diagnostic dilemma. J Laryngol Otol. 2006 Aug;120(8):681-3.[Abstract]
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38. Piper MH, Schaberg DR, Ross JM, et al. Endoscopic detection and therapy of colonic actinomycosis. Am J Gastroenterol. 1992 Aug;87(8):1040-2.[Abstract]
39. Harris LA, DeCosse JJ, Dannenberg A. Abdominal actinomycosis: evaluation by computed tomography. Am J Gastroenterol. 1989 Feb;84(2):198-200.[Abstract]
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41. Malik AI, Papagrigoriadis S, Leather AJ, et al. Abdominopelvic mass secondary to Actinomyces israelii mimicking cancer: report of two cases. Tech Coloproctol. 2005 Jul;9(2):170-71.[Abstract]
42. Ghaninejad H, Hasibi M, Moslehi H, et al. Primary cutaneous actinomycosis of the elbow with an exceptionally long incubation period. Int J Dermatol. 2008 Mar;47(3):304-5.[Abstract]
43. Wang YH, Tsai HC, Lee SS, et al. Clinical manifestations of actinomycosis in Southern Taiwan. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2007 Dec;40(6):487-92.[Abstract]
44. Karimian F, Feizi S, Nazari R, et al. Delayed-onset Actinomyces keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis. Cornea. 2008 Aug;27(7):843-6.[Abstract]
45. Carneiro RC, Macedo EM, Oliveira PP. Canaliculitis: case report and management. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2008 Jan-Feb;71(1):107-9.[Abstract][Full Text]
46. Milman T, Mirani N, Gibler T, et al. Actinomyces israelii endogenous endophthalmitis. Br J Ophthalmol. 2008 Mar;92(3):427-8.[Abstract]
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49. Martin MV. The use of oral amoxycillin for the treatment of actinomycosis: a clinical and in vitro study. Br Dent J. 1984 Apr 7;156(7):252-4.[Abstract]
50. Spilsbury BW, Johnstone FR. The clinical course of actinomycotic infections: a report of 14 cases. Can J Surg. 1962 Jan;5:33-48.[Abstract]
51. Sudhakar SS, Ross JJ. Short-term treatment of actinomycosis: two cases and a review. Clin Infect Dis. 2004 Feb 1;38(3):444-7.[Abstract][Full Text]
52. Nielsen PM, Novak A. Acute cervico-facial actinomycosis. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1987 Aug;16(4):440-4.[Abstract]
53. Martin MV. Antibiotic treatment of cervicofacial actinomycosis for patients allergic to penicillin: a clinical and in vitro study. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1985 Dec;23(6):428-34.[Abstract]
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55. Makaryus AN, Latzman J, Yang R, et al. A rare case of Actinomyces israelii presenting as pericarditis in a 75-year-old man. Cardiol Rev. 2005 May-Jun;13(3):125-7.[Abstract]
56. Brown R, Bancewicz J. Ureteric obstruction due to pelvic actinomycosis. Br J Surg. 1982 Mar;69(3):156.[Abstract]
57. Bonacho I, Pita S, Gómez-Besteiro MI. The importance of the removal of the intrauterine device in genital colonization by actinomyces. Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2001;52(2):119-23.[Abstract]
58. Bennhoff DF. Actinomycosis: diagnostic and therapeutic considerations and a review of 32 cases. Laryngoscope. 1984 Sep;94(9):1198-217.[Abstract]
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