Actinomycosis Treatment & Management

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

Medical Care

In most cases of actinomycosis, antimicrobial therapy is the only treatment required, although surgery can be adjunctive in selected cases. Penicillin G is the drug of choice for treating infections caused by actinomycetes.

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Surgical Care

Attempt to cure actinomycosis, including extensive disease, with aggressive antimicrobial therapy alone initially. Surgical therapy may include incision and drainage of abscesses, excision of sinus tracts and recalcitrant fibrotic lesions, decompression of closed-space infections, and interventions aimed at relieving obstruction (eg, when actinomycotic lesions compress the ureter). In a case series of 23 patients with abdominal actinomycosis, approximately 50% of patients required emergency surgery for symptoms of peritonitis.[6]

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Consultations

  • Interventional radiologist
  • Surgeon
  • Infectious diseases specialist
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Diet

No specific dietary precautions are indicated in patients with actinomycosis.

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Activity

Patients with actinomycosis may be active to the degree tolerated.

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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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