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Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening... Apr 2010Infections in the female pelvis can present clinically in various ways and the causing agent can be difficult to trace. In this paper we present updated knowledge about... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Infections in the female pelvis can present clinically in various ways and the causing agent can be difficult to trace. In this paper we present updated knowledge about infections caused by the bacterium Actinomycosis in relation to intrauterine device use.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The article is based on own clinical experience and literature identified through a non-systematic search in PubMed.
RESULTS
Actinomycosis in the female pelvis is a rare disease and the pathogenesis is still obscure. The incidence in Scandinavia has not been established. The infection can cause tumor-like structures resulting in bowel and urinary obstruction. The bacteria can be difficult to detect. Preferably the agent should be demonstrated in a specimen from the infected area to ensure the correct diagnosis. However, Actinomyces is a normal inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract and is also present in 5 % of cervical smears from healthy women. The optimal treatment of actinomycosis is long-term treatment with penicillin, alone or in addition to surgery.
INTERPRETATION
To avoid unnecessary and potentially difficult surgical procedures, actinomycosis should be a differential diagnosis when women with a longstanding intrauterine device develop signs of infection in addition to a pelvic mass. Intrauterine devices should be replaced every fifth year and should be removed at menopause.
Topics: Actinomycosis; Device Removal; Diagnosis, Differential; Equipment Contamination; Female; Humans; Intrauterine Devices; Pelvic Infection
PubMed: 20418928
DOI: 10.4045/tidsskr.09.0773 -
International Braz J Urol : Official... 2004Actinomycosis is a chronic granulomatous infection caused by the gram-positive anaerobic bacteria, Actinomyces israelli. This paper reviews the etiology and clinical... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Actinomycosis is a chronic granulomatous infection caused by the gram-positive anaerobic bacteria, Actinomyces israelli. This paper reviews the etiology and clinical presentation associated with Actinomycosis that often presents as a pelvic mass that mimics a pelvic malignancy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A combination of patients treated by the authors in the recent past and a literature review of patients with pelvic Actinomycosis were assessed for demographic, clinical and predisposing co-factors. An analysis is made of age distribution, gender, diagnostic methods and treatment concepts.
RESULTS
Thirty-three patients were included in the study that included 2 current patients and 31 obtained from literature review. There were 27 females (age range 16 - 69 years, mean 38 years) and 6 males (16 - 55 years, mean 36 years). Presenting signs and symptoms were lower abdominal mass in 28 (85%); lower abdominal pain in 21 (63%); vaginal discharge or hematuria in 7 (22%). Two patients developed fistulae (entero-vesico 1; vesico-cutaneous 1). Nineteen (70%) of the 27 female patients had intra-uterine contraceptive devices (IUD). Four patients (12.5%) (3 males and 1 female) had urachus or urachal remnants. Cystoscopy in 12 patients noted an extrinsic mass effect, bullous edema and in one patient " vegetative proliferation " proven to be a chronic inflammatory change. Exploratory laparotomy was performed in 32 of the 33 patients who had excision of mass and involved organs. Diagnosis was established by histologic examination of removed tissue. Penicillin (6 weeks) therapy was utilized to control infections.
CONCLUSION
Pelvic actinomycosis mimics pelvic malignancy and may be associated with the long-term use of intra-uterine contraceptive devices, and persistent urachal remnants. Removal of infected mass and antibiotic therapy will eradicate the inflammatory process.
Topics: Actinomycosis; Adolescent; Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Urinary Tract Infections
PubMed: 15610567
DOI: 10.1590/s1677-55382004000500002 -
Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira de... 2018Actinomycosis remains characteristically uncommon, but is still an important cause of morbidity. Its clinical presentation is usually indolent and chronic as slow... (Review)
Review
Actinomycosis remains characteristically uncommon, but is still an important cause of morbidity. Its clinical presentation is usually indolent and chronic as slow growing masses that can evolve into fistulae, and for that reason are frequently underdiagnosed. Actinomyces spp is often disregarded clinically and is classified as a colonizing microorganism. In this review of literature, we concomitantly present 11 cases of actinomycosis with different localizations, diagnosed at a tertiary hospital between 2009 and 2016. We outline the findings of at least one factor of immunosuppression in > 90% of the reported cases.
Topics: Actinomycosis; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amoxicillin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Female; Humans; Immunosuppression Therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Penicillins; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 29513846
DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0215-2017 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Dec 2021Actinomycosis is a rare infectious disease caused by Actinomyces, especially in children. Here, we present a case of musculoskeletal actinomycosis in a 5-year-old girl...
BACKGROUND
Actinomycosis is a rare infectious disease caused by Actinomyces, especially in children. Here, we present a case of musculoskeletal actinomycosis in a 5-year-old girl from China.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 5-year-old girl presented with recurrent episodes of fever, pain, erythema, swelling, and festering sores on the right lower extremity, and pus was discharged from a sinus in the right foot. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested subcutaneous soft tissue infection and osteomyelitis of the right crus. A bacterial culture of pus extracted from a festering sore on the right popliteal fossa detected the growth of Actinomycetes europaeus. The patient was cured with 7 weeks of treatment with intravenous ampicillin-sulbactam, followed by 6 weeks of treatment with oral amoxicillin-clavulanate with surgical debridement and drainage. There were no symptoms of recurrence during the 15-month period of follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric actinomycosis is a rare and challenging infectious disease. Early accurate diagnosis and optimal surgical debridement are important for the management of pediatric actinomycosis.
Topics: Actinomyces; Actinomycosis; Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Drainage; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Osteomyelitis
PubMed: 34876043
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06890-2 -
The New Microbiologica Jan 2019Actinomycosis is a rare, chronic and slowly progressive granulomatous disease caused by Actinomyces spp., a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium that rarely affects the... (Review)
Review
Actinomycosis is a rare, chronic and slowly progressive granulomatous disease caused by Actinomyces spp., a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium that rarely affects the esophagus. Although this infection is uncommon, it has been reported in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. The infection is often misdiagnosed because it can mimic other pathological conditions (like neoplasms and candidiasis), and Actinomyces is difficult to isolate because it requires specific growth conditions. However, actinomycosis has a favorable course if the microbiological diagnosis is timely. We report a case of esophageal actinomycosis in an immunocompetent 23-year-old man. The patient was admitted with symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), that had subsequently worsened. Histological and microbiological investigations revealed the presence of Actinomyces spp. A review of the literature regarding the clinical features, diagnosis, and management of this infection is also discussed.
Topics: Actinomyces; Actinomycosis; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Esophageal Diseases; Esophagus; Humans; Male; Young Adult
PubMed: 30785207
DOI: No ID Found -
Genitourinary Medicine Feb 1993
Review
Topics: Actinomyces; Actinomycosis; Female; Genital Diseases, Female; Humans; Intrauterine Devices; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PubMed: 8444484
DOI: 10.1136/sti.69.1.54 -
Fertility and Sterility Aug 2013To report a case of pelvic actinomycosis presenting as large, multiloculated abscesses after an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle for male factor infertility. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of pelvic actinomycosis presenting as large, multiloculated abscesses after an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle for male factor infertility.
DESIGN
A case report and literature review.
SETTING
University hospital.
PATIENT(S)
A 31-year-old nulligravid woman presenting with urinary retention, pelvic pain, and fever 6 days after transvaginal oocyte retrieval and an embryo transfer for male factor infertility.
INTERVENTION(S)
Intravenous and oral antimicrobial therapy, and computed tomography (CT)-guided drainage of pelvic abscesses.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Clinical and radiologic resolution of symptoms and infection.
RESULT(S)
The CT scan revealed several large, multiloculated pelvic and tuboovarian abscesses. The patient defervesced after 6 days of intravenous antibiotics, but the pelvic pain did not improve. After CT-guided drainage of the pelvic abscesses, the patient's symptoms improved. The drained material was cultured, and the patient was diagnosed with pelvic actinomycosis tuboovarian abscesses, an infrequent cause of tuboovarian abscess and a rare complication of assisted reproductive technology (ART). The patient was switched from intravenous to oral antibiotics and discharged home.
CONCLUSION(S)
Pelvic Actinomyces israelii presenting as pelvic abscesses may occur as a rare complication of ART. Physicians should consider a diagnosis of tuboovarian abscess in a patient reporting fever and pelvic pain after IVF and embryo transfer.
Topics: Abscess; Actinomycosis; Adult; Embryo Transfer; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Fever; Humans; Male; Pelvic Pain; Pelvis; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
PubMed: 23684115
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.04.018 -
Ugeskrift For Laeger Jan 2014We report a case of omental actinomycosis in a female patient with an intrauterine device. A computed tomography had shown an inflammatory tumour in the abdomen. The...
We report a case of omental actinomycosis in a female patient with an intrauterine device. A computed tomography had shown an inflammatory tumour in the abdomen. The patient was treated with laparoscopic resection of the tumour and prolonged antibiotic therapy. Abdominal actinomycosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with abdominal symptoms and unspecific clinical, radiological and laboratory findings. Definitive diagnosis of actinomycosis requires histological examination of affected tissue. Laparoscopic resection seems feasible as an alternative to open surgery.
Topics: Actinomycosis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Female; Humans; Intrauterine Devices; Middle Aged; Omentum; Peritoneal Diseases; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 25347178
DOI: No ID Found -
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia E... Jul 2019Asymptomatic female genital tract colonization with is not uncommon, particularly among intrauterine device users. Pelvic actinomycosis is an extremely rare disease....
Asymptomatic female genital tract colonization with is not uncommon, particularly among intrauterine device users. Pelvic actinomycosis is an extremely rare disease. The clinical picture can resemble an advanced ovarian malignancy. We report a case of pelvic actinomycosis mimicking ovarian malignancy diagnosed postoperatively. Preoperative diagnosis is possible if there is a high index of suspicion, obviating extensive surgery and preserving fertility, since long term antibiotic treatment can be completely effective. Pelvic actinomycosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of women presenting a pelvic mass, especially if there is intrauterine device use history.
Topics: Actinomyces; Actinomycosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Middle Aged; Ovarian Neoplasms; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 31250417
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1688462 -
Indian Journal of Dermatology,... 2018
Topics: Actinomycosis; HIV Infections; Hepatitis; Humans; Osteomyelitis
PubMed: 29451192
DOI: 10.4103/ijdvl.IJDVL_936_17