actinomycosis

enUK

actinomycosis

(ăk'tənōmīkō`sĭs), chronic suppurative infection that occurs around the face and neck. The disease is characterized by the formation of abscesses, or pus-filled cavities, below the surface of the skin. These abscesses spread rapidly and form channels that discharge a yellow granular pus on the surface of the skin. In humans these granules consist of Actinomyces israelii, a bacterium that used to be considered a fungus. Actinomycosis also sometimes affects the lungs, appendix, or the pelvic region, especially in women with certain kinds of intrauterine devices. Treatment consists of prolonged therapy with massive doses of penicillin and drainage by surgery. Actinomycosis also occurs in horses, cattle, swine, and dogs; it resembles human actinomycosis, but is caused by various other species of Actinomyces.

Actinomycosis

a chronic infectious disease of both humans and animals (cattle, and less frequently swine, sheep, goats, and horses), produced by anaerobic and aerobic ray fungi (the actinomycetes). The disease is distributed universally.

Human actinomycosis. Human actinomycosis comprises 6–8 percent of all chronic suppurative processes. The disease was first described by the German surgeon B. Langen beck in 1845. Ray fungi inhabit the human mouth cavity and intestinal tract; they are not usually harmful, but in some circumstances they become pathogenic. The principal infection route is the gastrointestinal tract, but the infecting fungi are airborne in some instances. Ray fungi which have entered tissue are surrounded by a cell barrier and a connective capsule; an actinomycoma is formed whose suppurative fusion leads to spread of the fungi into surrounding tissues. Actinomycosis is propagated within the organism either through direct contact or by way of the lymphatic system and blood stream. The disease follows an undulant course, with periodic fever and pains. It appears with the development of dense, elastic abscesses which become inflamed and suppurative and must be lanced; this in turn produces fistulas, accompanied by the discharge of bloody pus. Actinomycosis may affect any organ or tissue. Complications include contracture of the mastication muscles as a result of scar formation, contraction of the intestine and urinary tract, development of bronchiectasis and cystic cavities in the lungs, and pathological crises. The treatment may consist of actinolysate, actinomycetic polyvalent vaccine, antibiotics, sulfanilamide preparations, blood transfusions, and surgical intervention. Careful oral hygiene is the prophylaxis.

O. B. MINSKER

Animal actinomycosis. Animal actinomycosis may occur at any time of the year but appears most often during indoor periods when dry coarse fodder is used or during autumn pasturage on stubble. Actinomycetes most frequently enter the body tissues of animals through breaks in the mucous membrane. The general clinical sign of actinomycosis in all animal species is the formation of an actinomycoma, usually in the region of the head. The dense tumors, firmly accreted to the skin, are lanced from the outside or through the pharyngeal cavity. The fistulas thus formed exude pus which contains drusen of the irritating agent. The treatment consists mainly of antibiotics (penicillin, oxytetracycline). Surgery is used in cases where the tumors are circumscribed and separable. For prevention of animal actinomycosis in districts in which actinomycosis is endemic, animals should not be pastured on low-lying, swampy, or moist lands. Coarse fodder (hay, straw, or chaff) should be steamed before feeding. Sick animals should be isolated. The question of using meat from animals with actinomycosis is decided by specialists on the basis of the extent to which the carcass has been affected.

I. G. LEVENBERG

REFERENCES

Asnin, D. I. Immunodiagnostika aktinomikoza. Moscow, 1956.
Ospovat, B. L. Aktinomikoz legkikh. Moscow, 1963.
Suteev, G. O. Aktinomikoz. Moscow, 1951.

actinomycosis

[‚ak·tə·nō‚mī′kō·səs] (medicine) An infectious bacterial disease caused by Actinomyces bovis in cattle, hogs, and occasionally in humans. Also known as lumpy jaw.

actinomycosis

enUK

Actinomycosis

Definition

Actinomycosis is an infection primarily caused by the bacterium Actinomyces israelii. Infection most often occurs in the face and neck region and is characterized by the presence of a slowly enlarging, hard, red lump.

Description

Actinomycosis is a relatively rare infection occurring in one out of 300,000(1/300,000) people per year. It is characterized by the presence of a lump or mass that often forms, draining sinus tracts to the skin surface. Fifty percent of actinomycosis cases are of the head and neck region (also called "lumpy jaw" and "cervicofacial actinomycosis"), 15% are in the chest, 20% are in the abdomen, and the rest are in the pelvis, heart, and brain. Men are three times more likely to develop actinomycosis than women.

Causes and symptoms

Actinomycosis is usually caused by the bacterium Actinomyces israelii. This bacterium is normally present in the mouth but can cause disease if it enters tissues following an injury. Actinomyces israelii is an anaerobic bacterium which means it dislikes oxygen but grows very well in deep tissues where oxygen levels are low. Tooth extraction, tooth disease, root canal treatment, jaw surgery, or poor dental hygiene can allow Actinomyces israelii to cause an infection in the head and neck region.The main symptom of cervicofacial actinomycosis is the presence of a hard lump on the face or neck. The lump may or may not be red. Fever occurs in some cases.

Diagnosis

Cervicofacial actinomycosis can be diagnosed by a family doctor or dentist and the patient may be referred to an oral surgeon or infectious disease specialist. The diagnosis of actinomycosis is based upon several things. The presence of a red lump with draining sinuses on the head or neck is strongly suggestive of cervicofacial actinomycosis. A recent history of tooth extraction or signs of tooth decay or poor dental hygiene aid in the diagnosis. Microscopic examination of the fluid draining from the sinuses shows the characteristic "sulfur Granules" (small yellow colored material in the fluid) produced by Actinomyces israelii. A biopsy may be performed to remove a sample of the infected tissue. This procedure can be performed under local anesthesia in the doctor's office. Occasionally the bacteria can be cultured from the sinus tract fluid or from samples of the infected tissue.

Key terms

Biopsy — The process that removes a sample of tissue for microscopic examination to aid in the diagnosis of a disease.Sinus tract — A narrow, elongated channel in the body that allows the escape of fluid.Actinomycosis in the lungs, abdomen, pelvis, or brain can be very hard to diagnose since the symptoms often mimic those of other diseases. Actinomycosis of the lungs or abdomen can resemble tuberculosis or cancer. Diagnostic x-ray results, the presence of draining sinus tracts, and microscopic analysis and culturing of infected tissue assist in the diagnosis.

Treatment

Actinomycosis is difficult to treat because of its dense tissue location. Surgery is often required to drain the lesion and/or to remove the site of infection. To kill the bacteria, standard therapy has included large doses of penicillin given through a vein daily for two to six weeks followed by six to twelve months of penicillin taken by mouth. Tetracycline, clindamycin, or erythromycin may be used instead of penicillin. The antibiotic therapy must be completed to ensure that the infection does not return. However, a report in 2004 on several cases of actinomycosis said that therapy depends on the individual case and that many patients today will be diagnosed in earlier stages of the disease. Sometimes, shorter courses of antibiotic treatment are effective, with close diagnostic x-ray monitoring. Hyperbaric oxygen (oxygen under high pressure) therapy in combination with the antibiotic therapy has been successful.

Prognosis

Complete recovery is achieved following treatment. If left untreated, the infection may cause localized bone destruction.

Prevention

The best prevention is to maintain good dental hygiene.

Resources

Periodicals

Sudhaker, Selvin S., and John J. Rose. "Short-term Treatment of Actinomycosis: two Cases and a Review." Clinical Infectious Diseases (February 1, 2004): 444-448.

actinomycosis

[ak″tĭ-no-mi-ko´sis] an infection involving the deeper tissues of the skin and mucous membranes, most often of the head and neck, caused by bacteria of the genus Actinomyces. The lesions begin as painless tumorlike masses around the jaw and neck that later break down and begin to suppurate with a discharge through a network of sinuses extending through the skin. Intraperitoneal abscesses and lung abscesses may also occur. The source of infection is unknown, although the mouth is thought to be the portal of entry because the organisms are often found in decayed teeth and in the tonsillar crypts of persons who are otherwise normal.
The infection progresses slowly, without remission, and without at first seeming to affect the general health of the patient. If it is not treated successfully the condition may eventually be fatal.
Diagnosis is established by identifying the causative microorganisms in anaerobic culture from a lesion. The usual treatment is with penicillin, the drug of choice. In cases of allergy to this drug, tetracycline, clindamycin, or chloramphenicol can be used. Surgical measures include resection, incision, and drainage of chronic abscesses and sinuses.

ac·ti·no·my·co·sis

(ak'ti-nō-mī-kō'sis), A disease primarily of cattle and humans caused by the bacterium Actinomyces bovis in cattle and by A. israelii and Arachnia propionica in humans. These actinomycetes are part of the normal bacterial flora of the mouth and pharynx, but when introduced into tissue they may produce chronic destructive abscesses or granulomas that eventually discharge a viscid pus containing minute yellowish granules (sulfur granules). In humans, the disease commonly affects the cervicofacial area, abdomen, or thorax; in cattle, the lesion is commonly found in the mandible. Synonym(s): actinophytosis (1) , lumpy jaw [actino- + G. mykēs, fungus, + -osis, condition]

actinomycosis

(ăk-tĭn′ō-mī-kō′sĭs, ăk′tə-nō-)n. An inflammatory disease of cattle, hogs, humans, and other mammals, caused by actinomyces and characterized by lumpy tumors of the mouth, neck, chest, and abdomen. Also called lumpy jaw.

ac·tin′o·my·cot′ic (-kŏt′ĭk) adj.

Actinomycosis

A chronic local or systemic granulomatous infection by Actinomyces israelii, a filamentous, gram-positive bacterium.
Clinical findings Weight loss, weakness, fever, local pain, and indolent suppurative lesions of face & neck (40%–60% of cases), lungs & chest (15%), abdomen and other regions, often accompanied by draining sinus tracts/abscesses containing yellow aggregates (“sulphur granules”).
Main types Oral cervicofacial actinomycosis—accounts for half of cases of actinomycosis and is classically linked to dental caries; thoracic—linked to aspiration of infected droplets; abdominal—linked to appendicitis or foreign body ingestion (e.g., chicken bones); pelvic—often associated with IUDs which have been in place for prolonged periods of time.
Management IV penicillin for weeks to months.

actinomycosis

Infectious disease A chronic local or systemic granulomatous infection by Actinomyces israelii, a filamentous, gram-positive bacterium Clinical Weight loss, weakness, fever, local pain, indolent suppurative lesions of face & neck–40-60% of cases, lungs & chest–15%, abdomen and other regions, often accompanied by draining sinus tracts/abscesses containing yellow aggregates–'sulfur granules' Treatment IV penicillin. See Actinomyces, Sulfur granules.

ac·ti·no·my·co·sis

(ak'ti-nō-mī-kō'sis) A disease primarily of cattle and humans caused by Actinomyces bovis in cattle and by Actinomyces israelii and Arachnia propionica in humans. These actinomycetes are part of the normal bacterial flora of the mouth and pharynx, but they may produce chronic destructive abscesses or granulomas that eventually discharge a viscid pus containing minute yellowish granules (sulfur granules). In humans, the disease commonly affects the cervicofacial area, abdomen, or thorax. [actino- + G. mykēs, fungus, + -osis, condition]

actinomycosis

A persistent disease caused by filamentous, branching bacteria such as Actinomyces israelii whose colonies resemble those of a fungus. The organism exists in the mouth, especially around the teeth and may be transmitted by bites or knuckle injuries by teeth. The disease features multiple abscesses, often around the jaws or in the abdomen or lungs, which discharge thin pus, containing yellow ‘sulphur granules’. It has been reported in women fitted with intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs). Treatment is with benzylpenicillin or other antibiotics.

ac·ti·no·my·co·sis

(ak'ti-nō-mī-kō'sis) Disease primarily of cattle and humans caused by the bacterium Actinomyces bovis in cattle and by A. israelii and Arachnia propionica in humans. Part of the normal bacterial flora of the mouth and pharynx, but when introduced into tissue they may produce chronic destructive abscesses or granulomas that eventually discharge a viscid pus containing minute yellowish granules (sulfur granules). In humans, commonly affects cervicofacial area, abdomen, or thorax. [actino- + G. mykēs, fungus, + -osis, condition]

actinomycosis

ac·tin·o·my·co·sis

actinomycosis

ac•tin•o•my•co•sis

actinomycosis

actinomycosis

Actinomycosis

REFERENCES

actinomycosis

actinomycosis

Actinomycosis

Definition

Description

Causes and symptoms

Diagnosis

Key terms

Treatment

Prognosis

Prevention

Resources

Periodicals

actinomycosis

ac·ti·no·my·co·sis

actinomycosis

Actinomycosis

actinomycosis

ac·ti·no·my·co·sis

actinomycosis

ac·ti·no·my·co·sis

actinomycosis

Words related to actinomycosis

noun disease of cattle that can be transmitted to humans

Related Words