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Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases Apr 2021Hepatic Actinomycosis (HA) is one of the infections that causes disorders in patients when diagnosed untimely and inappropriately. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Hepatic Actinomycosis (HA) is one of the infections that causes disorders in patients when diagnosed untimely and inappropriately.
METHODS
Case reports on HA in patients published between 2000 and April 2020 were gathered by carrying out a structured search through PubMed/Medline.
RESULTS
Through a survey of the Medline database, 130 studies were identified and then, 64 cases with HA were included in the final analysis. Asia had the largest share of cases with 37.5% (24 reports), followed by Europe and the Americas. Affected patients were predominantly males (64%) and the overall mortality rate was 1% with only one male patient in his 50 s dying. Nearly all patients (92%) were immunocompetent. However, in four patients, the use of immunosuppressive medication led to depression of the immune system. Most of the patients (80%) experienced complications. In terms of the complications, the most frequent ones were previous history of abdominal surgery (32%) and foreign bodies in the abdominopelvic region (20%). Actinomyces israelii was the most common pathogen isolated from patients. Abdominal pain (66%), fever (62%), weight loss (48%), night sweat, malaise, and anorexia (14%) over about 3.1 months were the most frequently reported clinical symptoms. Extension to one or more surrounding organs was evident in 18 patients (28%). Histopathologic examination confirmed infection in 67% of the patients and samples obtained from liver puncture biopsy (32%) were most frequently used in diagnosis. Surgery or puncture drainage + anti-infection was the most common method to treat patients and penicillin, Amoxicillin, Doxycycline, and ampicillin were the most frequently used drugs to control infection.
CONCLUSION
HA should be considered in patients with a subacute or chronic inflammatory process of the liver. With accurate and timely diagnosis of infection, extensive surgery can be prevented.
Topics: Actinomyces; Actinomycosis; Asia; Europe; Humans; Male
PubMed: 33931097
DOI: 10.1186/s13023-021-01821-5 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Oct 2023Turicella otitidis belongs to the Corynebacteriaceae family and is a normal inhabitant of the ear and exists in a commensal relationship with its host. In children, T....
Turicella otitidis belongs to the Corynebacteriaceae family and is a normal inhabitant of the ear and exists in a commensal relationship with its host. In children, T. otitidis is frequently associated with otitis media. The emergence of Turicella otitidis as a pathogen is concerning, particularly due to the limited availability of data on its pathogenic properties. The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of T. otitidis infections occurring in both the ear and other anatomical sites, and to summarize the differences in metabolism and genome sequences between isolates obtained from the ear and blood.
Topics: Child; Humans; Virulence; Otitis Media; Corynebacterium; Actinomycetales
PubMed: 37891485
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08721-y -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Apr 2020Mycetoma is considered a neglected tropical disease globally. However, data on its burden and the associated complications in Uganda are limited. Hence we aimed to...
Mycetoma is considered a neglected tropical disease globally. However, data on its burden and the associated complications in Uganda are limited. Hence we aimed to estimate its burden in Uganda. Firstly, a systematic PubMed search for all studies of any design on mycetoma in Uganda without restriction to the year of publication was conducted. A retrospective review of all the biopsy reports at the Pathology Reference Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda from January 1950 to September 2019 was conducted to identify any reports on mycetoma histological diagnosis. During the 70-years study period, 30 cases were identified by the literature review, with 249 additional cases identified by review of biopsy reports (total of 279 cases). The average incidence was estimated at 0.32/100,000 persons and prevalence of 8.32/100,000 persons per decade. However, there was a general decline in the number of cases detected recently. Males and the age group of 21-30 years were the most affected by mycetoma in Uganda, and only 7% of the cases were children. The highest number of cases was recorded from Kampala (n = 30) and Jinja (n = 19) districts. The majority of the cases (68%) were referred from surgical units. The foot was the most affected part of the body (72%). Ten per cent of the cases had bone involvement of which 58% required amputation. Fungi were the most common causative agents (89%) followed by Nocardia species (5%) and Actinomycetes (4%). The index of clinical suspicion of mycetoma was low (45%) with a very large differential diagnosis. Mycetoma is a relatively rare disease in Uganda, mostly caused by fungi, and there is a big gap in data and epidemiological studies. More systematic studies are warranted to define the true burden of mycetoma in Uganda.
Topics: Actinomycetaceae; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Child, Preschool; Cost of Illness; Female; Fungi; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Middle Aged; Mycetoma; Neglected Diseases; Nocardia; Prevalence; Sex Factors; Tropical Climate; Uganda; Young Adult
PubMed: 32348300
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008240 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Jan 2024Actinomyces turicensis is rarely responsible of clinically relevant infections in human. Infection is often misdiagnosed as malignancy, tuberculosis, or nocardiosis,...
BACKGROUND
Actinomyces turicensis is rarely responsible of clinically relevant infections in human. Infection is often misdiagnosed as malignancy, tuberculosis, or nocardiosis, therefore delaying the correct identification and treatment. Here we report a case of a 55-year-old immunocompetent adult with brain abscess caused by A. turicensis. A systematic review of A. turicensis infections was performed.
METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The databases MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Clinicaltrials.gov and Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (CADTH) were searched for all relevant literature.
RESULTS
Search identified 47 eligible records, for a total of 67 patients. A. turicensis infection was most frequently reported in the anogenital area (n = 21), causing acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) including Fournier's gangrene (n = 12), pulmonary infections (n = 8), gynecological infections (n = 6), cervicofacial district infections (n = 5), intrabdominal or breast infections (n = 8), urinary tract infections (n = 3), vertebral column infections (n = 2) central nervous system infections (n = 2), endocarditis (n = 1). Infections were mostly presenting as abscesses (n = 36), with or without concomitant bacteremia (n = 7). Fever and local signs of inflammation were present in over 60% of the cases. Treatment usually involved surgical drainage followed by antibiotic therapy (n = 51). Antimicrobial treatments most frequently included amoxicillin (+clavulanate), ampicillin/sulbactam, metronidazole or cephalosporins. Eighty-nine percent of the patients underwent a full recovery. Two fatal cases were reported.
CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, we hereby present the first case of a brain abscess caused by A. turicensis and P. mirabilis. Brain involvement by A. turicensis is rare and may result from hematogenous spread or by dissemination of a contiguous infection. The infection might be difficult to diagnose and therefore treatment may be delayed. Nevertheless, the pathogen is often readily treatable. Diagnosis of actinomycosis is challenging and requires prompt microbiological identification. Surgical excision and drainage and antibiotic treatment usually allow for full recovery.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Middle Aged; Actinomyces; Actinomycosis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Brain Abscess; Canada
PubMed: 38245682
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-08995-w