Actinomycosis Clinical Presentation

  • Author: Jason F Okulicz, MD; Chief Editor: Burke A Cunha, MD   more...
 
Updated: Aug 2, 2011
 

History

  • Cervicofacial actinomycosis (ie, lumpy jaw)
    • History of dental manipulation or trauma to the mouth, poor oral hygiene, dental caries, or periodontal disease; may arise following local tissue damage caused by neoplasm or by osteonecrosis of the jaw or maxilla due to radiation treatment or bisphosphonate use[1, 2, 3, 4]
    • Painless or occasionally painful soft-tissue swelling involving the submandibular or perimandibular region; over time, multiple sinuses drain pus containing sulfur granules; tendency to remit and recur
    • Reddish or bluish discoloration of the skin overlying the lesion
    • Chewing difficulties (ie, with involvement of mastication muscles)
  • Thoracic actinomycosis
    • History of aspiration (Risk factors include seizure disorder, alcoholism, and poor dental hygiene.)
    • Dry or productive cough, occasionally blood-streaked sputum, shortness of breath, chest pain
    • Fever, weight loss, fatigue, anorexia
  • Abdominal actinomycosis
    • History of abdominal surgery, perforated viscus, mesenteric vascular insufficiency, or ingestion of foreign bodies (eg, fish or chicken bones)
    • Nonspecific symptoms; the most common symptoms are as follows:
      • Low-grade fever
      • Weight loss
      • Fatigue
      • Change in bowel habits
      • Vague abdominal discomfort
      • Nausea
      • Vomiting
      • Sensation of a mass
  • Pelvic actinomycosis
    • History of IUCD
    • Lower abdominal discomfort, abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge
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Physical

  • Cervicofacial actinomycosis
    • Patients with cervicofacial actinomycosis present with nodular lesion(s), usually located at the angle of the jaw. These gradually increase in size and number (ie, multiple abscesses), and ultimately form sinuses that open onto the cheek or submandibular area. Sulfur granules may be seen in the exudate.
    • Nodules may be tender in the initial stages are typically nontender and woody hard in the later stages.
    • Lymphadenopathy is typically absent.
    • Trismus is present if the mastication muscles are involved.
    • Fever is variably present.
  • Thoracic actinomycosis
    • Fever, cachexia, abnormal breath sounds, cough (dry or productive of purulent sputum), hemoptysis
    • Sinus tracts with drainage from the chest wall (ie, pleurocutaneous fistula)
  • Abdominal actinomycosis
    • Scar(s) from antecedent abdominal surgery
    • Low-grade fever and cachexia (variably present)
    • Mass most often located in the right lower quadrant, less frequently in the left lower quadrant; mass typically firm-to-hard in consistency, nontender, often fixed to underlying tissue
    • Sinus tracts with drainage from either the abdominal wall (ie, peritoneocutaneous fistula) or the perianal region
  • Pelvic actinomycosis
    • Pelvic mass
    • Menometrorrhagia
    • Other manifestations, as in abdominal actinomycosis
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Causes

Actinomycosis is caused by filamentous, gram-positive, non–acid-fast, non–spore-forming bacteria. They belong to the order of Actinomycetales, family Actinomycetaceae, genus Actinomyces. Members of the genera Propionibacterium, Actinobaculum, and Bifidobacterium may cause similar clinical syndromes. Actinomyces organisms grow slowly in anaerobic-to-microaerophilic conditions, forming colonies with a characteristic molar tooth appearance. The most common isolated species are Actinomyces israeli, Actinomyces gerencseriae, Actinomyces turicensis, Actinomyces radingae, and Actinomyces europaeus, followed by Actinomyces naeslundii, Actinomyces odontolyticus, Actinomyces viscosus, Actinomyces meyeri, and Propionibacterium propionicum.

In addition to these microorganisms, almost all actinomycotic lesions contain so-called companion bacteria. The most important of these bacteria is Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, followed by Peptostreptococcus, Prevotella, Fusobacterium,Bacteroides,Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus species, and Enterobacteriaceae, depending on the location of actinomycotic lesions. These companion bacteria appear to magnify the low pathogenic potential of actinomycetes.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Jason F Okulicz, MD  Assistant Professor of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Staff, Infectious Disease Service, Brooke Army Medical Center

Jason F Okulicz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Hari Polenakovik, MD  Assistant Professor of Medicine, Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine

Hari Polenakovik, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sylvia Polenakovik, MD  Clinical Instructor, Internist, Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne Hospital, Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine

Sylvia Polenakovik, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Daniel R Lucey, MD, MPH  Chief, Fellowship Program Director, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington Hospital Center; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Daniel R Lucey, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Joseph F John Jr, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine; Associate Chief of Staff for Education, Ralph H Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD  Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Burke A Cunha, MD  Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Actinomycosis in the endometrial tissue, low-power view. Image courtesy of Paul Gibbs, MD.
Actinomycosis in the endometrial tissue, high-power view. Image courtesy of Paul Gibbs, MD.
 
 
 
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