Actinomycosis, a lurking threat: a report of 11 cases and literature review

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2018 Jan-Feb;51(1):7-13. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0215-2017.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Actinomycosis / diagnosis
  • Actinomycosis / drug therapy*
  • Actinomycosis / pathology
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amoxicillin / administration & dosage*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Penicillins / administration & dosage*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Penicillins
  • Amoxicillin