SEARCH · Search PubMed
Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Pleural effusion represents an unusual but significant manifestation of actinomycosis, as illustrated in this case presentation. The diagnosis was made after bronchoscopy and examination of bronchoalveolar fluid and culture. No parenchymal abnormality was noted on the chest film.
A patient with multiple subcutaneous abscesses was found to have disseminated actinomycosis. No predisposing cause was identified. No defects in immunity were found. His disease responded promptly to penicillin therapy.
We report a case of pleuropulmonary actinomycosis in a child followed by a most unusual complication: the appearance of a systemic-to-pulmonary artery fistula in the area where the abscess was drained. Fifteen months after successful treatment with penicillin and surgical drainage, a continuous murmur was heard over the scar. Aortic angiography showed multiple connections between the intercostal arteries and the left pulmonary artery through an angiomatous lesion in the left lower lobe. This resulted in a considerable left-to-right shunt. Possible pathogenic mechanisms are discussed.
Cardiac actinomycosis occurs in less than 2 percent of the patients with infections due to Actinomyces israelii. We describe the findings in a patient with acute cardiac tamponade who survived through pericardial drainage and aggressive medical therapy. Although uncommon, this disorder is important to recognize because it is curable with current medical and surgical therapy.
A case of mandibular actinomycosis, secondary to a compound fracture in an alcoholic patient, is described. The factors that apparently enhance the development of this disease are discussed.
We present a case of a 58 year old white male who entered the hospital with abdominal pain and developed large bowel obstruction, simulating malignant disease. Anatomopathological examination showed abdominal actinomycosis, a rare presentation of this disease.
Three cases of pelvic actinomycosis, which presented over a short period of time, are described. In all three cases the diagnosis was only considered following laparotomy, although there were characteristic diagnostic clues at presentation. In two cases imaging of the pelvis by ultrasound and computed tomography was unhelpful in distinguishing the condition from pelvic neoplasia.
A case of pleuropericarditis caused by Actinomyces israelli is described. The patient first underwent left upper lobectomy because of pulmonary actinomycosis. Seven months later, cardiac tamponade developed. Culture of the bloody pericardial effusion resulted in positive growth of Actinomyces israeli. He was successfully treated with penicillin G, ampicillin, and minocyclin. However, right pleural effusion appeared two months later. Cultures of the effusion again yielded positive growth of the same bacteria. However, the strain had gained resistance to any antibiotics that had been effective before. Accordingly, pleurodesis with minocyclin was undertaken, which was fortunately effective for controlling the pleural effusion.
Actinomycosis is caused by microorganisms of the Actinomyces species, found in the oral cavity, gastrointestinal and genital tract. Infection by Actimomyces species mainly causes chronic supurative disease of the oral, cervico-facial, thoracic, and abdominal regions. Clinical manifestations have been described at every level, but the disease is relatively rarely diagnosed. The causative agent is considered to be an opportunistic pathogen associated with infection, trauma, surgical procedures, or associated with a neoplasm or foreign body. Symptoms include intermittent fever, weight loss, abdominal or thoracic pain, pseudotumor and tumor masses, and local symptoms from the infected area. Pseudotumor and tumor masses are diagnosed by ultrasonography and computerized tomography. The diagnosis is confirmed by the presence of a causative agent in biopsy or surgically acquired samples. The treatment includes the administration of high doses of antibiotics (penicillin, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone) for at least 6-12 months, as well as surgical treatment. Penicillin is a drug of choice. This infection is often polymicrobial, so that antibiotic therapy should include agents that act against the associated pathogens. Treatment outcome and prognosis in these three cases were excellent, despite the prolonged course of the extensive disease.
A case of bilateral actinomycotic salpingitis is described. The woman used an IUD and the course of the disease was protracted. Later, Actinomyces israelii was coincidentally identified from vaginal cultures. Attention is drawn to the need for distinction between the presence of Actinomyces israelii and actinomycosis.
In the National Neurosurgical Centre in the Sultanate of Oman, four patients with cranio-facial actinomycosis were seen over a 5-year period. All patients had osteomyelitis and intracranial granulomata and the diagnosis was confirmed with histopathology. In two cases the organisms were cultured. In three patients the cranial spread was by contiguity from the scalp and face while one case had the extradural granuloma following a dental extraction. With medication there was gross reduction of proptosis and intracranial lesion in one patient and in two there was marked reduction in the size of the intracranial lesion as seen on serial computerized tomographic scanning of the head (CT head). Three patients are now asymptomatic and are being followed up while one expired with subarachnoid haemorrhage. Although eradication of the disease is difficult, with adequate medication and appropriate surgical intervention, three of these patients continue to remain relatively symptom-free for long periods of time.
In a 41-year-old, previously healthy man, a pulmonary opacity presented diagnostic difficulties. Thoracotomy with resection of lung and ribs revealed actinomycosis. Postoperatively the patient responded well to long-term penicillin therapy.
A patient with hepatic actinomycosis caused by Actinomyces odontolyticus is presented. The clinical course was characterized by 2 yr of episodic abdominal pains and fever together with marked acute elevations of serum alkaline phosphatase. The diagnosis escaped extensive laboratory studies, 2 liver biopsies and 1 laparotomy and was finally verified at a second laparotomy by histology and a positive culture. Histopathology showed multiple small abscesses. No primary focus of infection was found. Treatment with doxycycline was successful.
A rare case of actinomycosis of the brain is reported. The patient recovered after surgical excision of the lesion and a prolonged course of antibiotic therapy. At follow-up examination 25 months later, the patient was in excellent health. Different types of actinomycotic infections of the central nervous system are reviewed and the diagnosis and treatment of this disease are discussed.
A 36-year-old woman presented with a palpable tender mass at the left lower quadrant of the abdomen. She had suffered from constipation for five years and had a previous history of intrauterine device-use for one year. Preoperative barium enema and abdominopelvic CT showed a compatible finding of rectosigmoid colon cancer or left ovary cancer. She underwent segmental resection of the sigmoid colon along with the removal of left distal ureter, left ovary and salpinx. Pathologic examination revealed actinomycotic abscesses containing sulfur granules. Thereafter, she took parenteral ampicillin (50mg/kg/day) for one month and oral amoxicillin (250mg, tid) for 2 months consecutively. The patient has no specific problems for 6 months after surgical resection and long-term antibiotic therapy. This report may be the first of intrauterine device-associated pelvic actinomycosis involving both sigmoid colon and rectum extensively.
We report a case of a 70-year-old woman who presented with mild exertional dyspnea and cough. Fiberoptic bronchoscopic findings revealed an endobronchial polypoid lesion with stenotic bronchus. The lesion was very similar to endobronchial tuberculosis. Histologic examination of the biopsy specimen demonstrated Actinomyces infection. There was a clinical response to intravenous penicillin therapy. Primary endobronchial actinomycosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of an endobronchial lesion, especially endobronchial tuberculosis in Korea.
A fatal case of hepatic actinomycosis in an immuno-compromised host is described. Diagnosis was delayed because of the rarity of this disease and because amoebic liver abscess, common in the tropics, has a similar presentation.
OBJECTIVES: To report one case of pseudotumoral lesion of the iliac ureter with obstructive uropathy leading to loss of function of the renal unit. METHODS: 66-year-old male being studied for BPH who presents with a self-limited monosymptomatic hematuria. RESULTS: Renal ultrasound detected grade II pyelocaliectasis of the right kidney. IVU showed absence of function of the right kidney. Urine cytology was consistent with low-grade transitional cell carcinoma. Percutaneous nephrostomy was performed confirming irreversible function loss. Antegrade pyelography showed a filling defect in the right iliac ureter. Radical nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff was carried out with good results. Pathology reported chronic pyelonephritis and parietal inflammatory lesion of the ureter obliterating the lumen with inflammatory infiltrates, urothelial erosion and presence of actinomyces. CONCLUSIONS: Actinomycosis is a chronic bacterial infection, with A. israeli being the most common pathogen. It is part of the normal flora of the oral cavity and GI tract, and cervical-facial region is the most frequent clinical involvement (60% of the cases). Urinary tract infection is exceptional. No other focus was found in the long-term follow-up.