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Journal of Infection and Public Health Apr 2023Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare infection caused by the bacterial species actinomyces. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of pulmonary actinomycosis to... (Review)
Review
Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare infection caused by the bacterial species actinomyces. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of pulmonary actinomycosis to improve awareness and knowledge. The literature was analysed using databases including Pubmed, Medline and Embase from 1974 to 2021. After inclusion and exclusion, a total of 142 papers were reviewed. Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare disease occurring in approximately 1 per 3,000,000 people annually. Historically, pulmonary actinomycosis was a common infection with high mortality; however, the infection has become rarer since the widespread use of penicillins. Actinomycosis is known as "the great masquerade"; however, it can be differentiated from other diseases with acid-fast negative ray-like bacilli and sulphur granules being pathognomonic. Complications of the infection include empyema, endocarditis, pericarditis, pericardial effusion, and sepsis. The mainstay of treatment is prolonged antibiotic therapy, with adjuvant surgery in severe cases. Future research should focus on multiple areas, including the potential risk secondary to immunosuppression from newer immunotherapies, the utility of newer diagnostic techniques and ongoing surveillance post-therapy.
Topics: Humans; Actinomycosis; Actinomyces; Lung Diseases; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Penicillins
PubMed: 36801629
DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2023.02.004 -
Clinical Microbiology Reviews Apr 2015Actinomyces israelii has long been recognized as a causative agent of actinomycosis. During the past 3 decades, a large number of novel Actinomyces species have been... (Review)
Review
Actinomyces israelii has long been recognized as a causative agent of actinomycosis. During the past 3 decades, a large number of novel Actinomyces species have been described. Their detection and identification in clinical microbiology laboratories and recognition as pathogens in clinical settings can be challenging. With the introduction of advanced molecular methods, knowledge about their clinical relevance is gradually increasing, and the spectrum of diseases associated with Actinomyces and Actinomyces-like organisms is widening accordingly; for example, Actinomyces meyeri, Actinomyces neuii, and Actinomyces turicensis as well as Actinotignum (formerly Actinobaculum) schaalii are emerging as important causes of specific infections at various body sites. In the present review, we have gathered this information to provide a comprehensive and microbiologically consistent overview of the significance of Actinomyces and some closely related taxa in human infections.
Topics: Actinomyces; Actinomycosis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Classification; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 25788515
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00100-14 -
BMJ Case Reports Jan 2024A man in his 50s, with a history of night sweats and weight loss, presented acutely with dyspnoea and chest pain. Imaging revealed right middle lobe consolidation and a...
A man in his 50s, with a history of night sweats and weight loss, presented acutely with dyspnoea and chest pain. Imaging revealed right middle lobe consolidation and a large pericardial effusion. The diagnosis of actinomycosis was made using endobronchial ultrasound-guided sampling from the pericardial effusion. An orthopantomogram demonstrated that the source was a large cavity in the left lower wisdom tooth. This tooth was extracted before the completion of his antibiotic course, and the patient made a full recovery. Cardiac actinomycosis is rare, and there are few case reports describing endobronchial ultrasound-guided sampling of pericardial fluid.
Topics: Humans; Male; Actinomycosis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chest Pain; Pericardial Effusion; Pericardium; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38195185
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2023-257733 -
International Journal of Dermatology Oct 2020Cervicofacial actinomycosis is an uncommon, chronic, suppurative, and granulomatous bacterial infection. It is often of dental origin and tends to mimic other dental... (Review)
Review
Cervicofacial actinomycosis is an uncommon, chronic, suppurative, and granulomatous bacterial infection. It is often of dental origin and tends to mimic other dental infections, granulomatous disorders, and cancers. The initial diagnostic workup, predicated upon imaging and tissue biopsies, is frequently nonspecific. A definitive diagnosis is usually rendered only after surgical excision and histologic examination of the cervicofacial mass. We propose a classification of three stages: localized infection without sinus involvement, localized infection with sinus involvement, and disseminated infection, to facilitate recognition, diagnosis, and early aggressive treatment. Untreated infection may be life-threatening. Therapy may require long-term antibiotics; however, many cases may also necessitate complete surgical excision.
Topics: Actinomycosis; Actinomycosis, Cervicofacial; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biopsy; Humans
PubMed: 32162331
DOI: 10.1111/ijd.14833 -
Revue Medicale Suisse Oct 2019Actinomycosis is a chronic bacterial infection, caused by the genus Actinomyces, commensal of the digestive and genital tract. The most common presentation of the... (Review)
Review
Actinomycosis is a chronic bacterial infection, caused by the genus Actinomyces, commensal of the digestive and genital tract. The most common presentation of the disease affects the cervicofacial region, but other anatomical sites in the abdomen, thorax and central nervous system may be involved. Differential diagnosis includes neoplasia. Prolonged culture of deep samples in an anaerobic environment is the gold standard of the diagnosis. The treatment of choice is intravenous penicillin G followed by oral amoxicillin for a total duration of 6 to 12 months. However, depending on the location and response to antibiotics, shorter therapy may be considered.
Topics: Actinomyces; Actinomycosis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Neoplasms; Organ Specificity
PubMed: 31599519
DOI: No ID Found -
Laryngo- Rhino- Otologie Dec 2021Actinomycosis is an infectious disease caused by gram-positive, facultative anaerobic bacteria, which in most cases manifests itself in the cervicofacial area and often...
Actinomycosis is an infectious disease caused by gram-positive, facultative anaerobic bacteria, which in most cases manifests itself in the cervicofacial area and often has a dentogenic focus. The clinical presentation ranges from acute abscess to chronically fistulating soft tissue processes. Early diagnosis and an appropriate therapeutic approach including a combination of extensive antibiotic treatment and, if necessary, surgical intervention are critical. This article presents five cases of actinomycete infections, which are intended to illustrate the variety of clinical presentations, the problems on the way to the correct diagnosis and possible therapeutic courses.
Topics: Actinomycosis; Actinomycosis, Cervicofacial; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans
PubMed: 33618377
DOI: 10.1055/a-1381-8406 -
Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira de... 2022
Topics: Humans; Actinomycosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 36287474
DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0315-2022 -
Pathology Jun 2022
Topics: Actinomycosis; Canaliculitis; Dacryocystitis; Humans
PubMed: 34565602
DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2021.07.005 -
International Journal of Gynecological... Mar 2019Seven cases of actinomycotic endometritis were identified among 28,906 endometrial biopsies performed in the last 10 yr. The patients' ages ranged from 44 to 85 yr...
Seven cases of actinomycotic endometritis were identified among 28,906 endometrial biopsies performed in the last 10 yr. The patients' ages ranged from 44 to 85 yr old. An intrauterine device was in place from 7 to 44 yr. The reasons to perform the biopsies included abnormal uterine bleeding, malodor, prolapse, pelvic inflammatory disease, and suspicion of metastatic uterine sarcoma. Definitive identification of Actinomyces israelii by culture was obtained in 1 case only. Gram, Gomori methenamine silver, and Fite stains were useful in the differential diagnosis with pseudoactinomycotic granules, Nocardia, fungi, and other bacteria. The Actinomyces-like organisms were surrounded by extensive suppurative reaction in all cases. The tissues showed florid neutrophilic and plasmacytic inflammation. The treatment consisted of intrauterine device removal and 10 to 30 d of antibiotics in 4 patients. The Actinomyces-like organisms persisted for 6 wk in spite of antibiotic therapy when the intrauterine device removal was delayed in one of those cases. Two patients had hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy due to tubo-ovarian abscess and hysterectomy, salpingo-oophorectomy, and rectosigmoid excision due to pelvic abscess and septic emboli, both followed by 30 to 45 d of antibiotic therapy. One patient had hysterectomy not followed by antibiotics due to prolapse. No other pelvic abscesses were identified on follow-up, which ranged from 4 to 101 mo (median, 20 mo; mean, 44 mo).
Topics: Abscess; Actinomyces; Actinomycosis; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Diagnosis, Differential; Endometritis; Endometrium; Female; Humans; Intrauterine Devices; Middle Aged; Pelvis
PubMed: 29369919
DOI: 10.1097/PGP.0000000000000476 -
QJM : Monthly Journal of the... Nov 2021
Topics: Actinomycosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans
PubMed: 33682880
DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcab048