Actinomycosis

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Actinomycosis
Classification and external resources
A patient with Actinomycosis on the right side of the face.
ICD-10 A42.
ICD-9 039
DiseasesDB 145
eMedicine med/31 
MeSH D000196

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A BHI plate culture of Actinomyces sp., strain X616, at 72hrs of growth
A BHI plate culture of Actinomyces sp., strain X616, at 72hrs of growth

Actinomycosis (ak-tuh-nuh-my-KOH-sihs), is a rare infectious bacterial disease of humans generally caused by Actinomyces israelii, A. gerencseriae and Propionibacterium propionicus, though the condition is likely to be polymicrobial.[1] Characterized by the formation of painful abscesses in the mouth, lungs, or digestive organs, actinomycosis abscesses grow larger as the disease progresses, often over a period of months. In severe cases, the abscesses may penetrate the surrounding bone and muscle to the skin, where they break open and leak large amounts of pus.

Actinomycosis occurs in cattle and other animals as a disease called lumpy jaw. This name refers to the large abscesses that grow on the head and neck of the infected animal.

In 1877 pathologist Otto Bollinger described the presence of Actinomyces bovis in cattle, and shortly afterwards, James Israel discovered Actinomyces israelii in humans. In 1890 Eugen Bostroem isolated the causative organism from a culture of grain, grasses, and soil. After Bostroem's discovery there was a general misconception that actinomycosis was a mycosis that affected individuals who chewed grass or straw.

Causative organism

Actinomycosis is primarily caused by any of several members of the bacterial genus Actinomyces. These bacteria are generally anaerobes.[1] Actinomyces spp. normally live in the small spaces between the teeth and gums, causing infection only when they can multiply freely in anoxic environments. The three most common sites of infection are decayed teeth, the lungs, and the intestines.

Since Actinomyces bacteria are generally sensitive to penicillin, it is frequently used to treat actinomycosis.

Pathophysiology & Etiology

  • 6 species cause disease in humans:
    • A. israelii
    • A. Naeslundii
    • A. odontolyticus
    • A. viscosus
    • A. Meyeri
    • A. gerencseriae
  • Gram positive filamentous rod
  • Sulfur Granules
  • Actinomyces from within, Nocardia from without
  • Generally low pathogenicity and cause disease only in the setting of antecedent tissue injury


Symptoms

Pharmacotherapy

Surgery and Device Based Therapy

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Acknowledgements

The content on this page was first contributed by: Dr. Steve Wiviott



de:Aktinomykose gl:Actinomicose hr:Aktinomikoza nl:Actinomycosesr:Актиномикоза fi:Aktinomykoosi uk:Актиномікоз

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Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content

Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .

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