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Frontiers in Medicine 2024Pulmonary actinomycosis (PA) is a rare type of infection that can be challenging to diagnose since it often mimics lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Pulmonary actinomycosis (PA) is a rare type of infection that can be challenging to diagnose since it often mimics lung cancer.
METHODS
Published case reports and case series of PA in patients with suspicion of lung cancer were considered, and data were extracted by a structured search through PubMed/Medline.
RESULTS
After analyzing Medline, 31 studies were reviewed, from which 48 cases were extracted. Europe had the highest prevalence of reported cases with 45.1%, followed by Asia (32.2%), America (19.3%), and Africa (3.2%). The average age of patients was 58.9 years, and 75% of all patients were above 50 years old. Male patients (70%) were predominantly affected by PA. The overall mortality rate was 6.25%. In only eight cases, the causative agent was reported, and was the most common isolated pathogen with three cases. Based on histopathological examination, 75% of the cases were diagnosed, and the lobectomy was performed in 10 cases, the most common surgical intervention. In 50% of the cases, the selective antibiotics were intravenous and oral penicillin, followed by amoxicillin (29.1%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ampicillin, levofloxacin, and doxycycline.
CONCLUSION
The non-specific symptoms resemble lung cancer, leading to confusion between PA and cancer in imaging scans. Radiological techniques are helpful but have limitations that can lead to unnecessary surgeries when confusing PA with lung cancer. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of PA and lung cancer to prevent undesirable complications and ensure appropriate treatment measures are taken.
PubMed: 38523909
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1356390 -
International Journal of... 2023Mycobacterium nebraskense is a rare, slow growing nontuberculous mycobacterium species with limited documented cases. This systematic review aims to comprehensively...
BACKGROUND
Mycobacterium nebraskense is a rare, slow growing nontuberculous mycobacterium species with limited documented cases. This systematic review aims to comprehensively analyze the clinical characteristics, presentation, and management of M. nebraskense infections by analyzing the available literature, including a newly reported case that we present in this article.
METHODS
A comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar to identify relevant cases up to October 2023. Only seven reported cases were found, highlighting the scarcity of information on this pathogen.
RESULTS
Our analysis revealed several key findings. First, gender disparities were observed, with females being more susceptible to M. nebraskense infections. Additionally, a significant portion of patients presented with asymptomatic infections. Most affected individuals were over the age of 60, emphasizing potential age-related susceptibility. Comorbidity profiles varied widely among cases, and patients with preexisting lung comorbidities were at an increased risk of infection. The decision to treat or observe depended on clinical presentation, with even immunosuppressed individuals not always requiring treatment. Regarding treatment, we proposed an empirical approach with amikacin, clarithromycin, or rifabutin, considering the reported resistance to doxycycline and minocycline. Combination therapy was commonly employed to minimize resistance development, consistent with mycobacterial infection management.
CONCLUSION
This study underscores the need for further research to validate these findings and enhance our understanding of M. nebraskense infections. As limited data are available, this review aims to provide valuable insights into a rare and emerging pathogen to guide clinical practice and future research endeavors.
Topics: Female; Humans; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous; Mycobacterium; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; Clarithromycin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 38149541
DOI: 10.4103/ijmy.ijmy_167_23