What is actinomycosis?

Actinomycosis is a long-term (chronic) bacterial infection that commonly affects the face and neck.

1. How does someone get Actinomyces?
2. What is Actinomyces infection?
3. Is actinomycosis serious?
4. Which disease is caused by actinomycetes?
5. What is Cervicofacial actinomycosis?
6. How do I treat actinomycosis?
7. Is actinomycosis common?
8. What part of the world you are most likely to find cases of actinomycosis?
9. How is actinomycosis diagnosed?
10. What is lumpy jaw?
11. What infection is associated with sulfur crystals?
12. What antibiotics cover Actinomyces?
13. Can actinomycosis be fatal?
14. Why is actinomycosis called lumpy jaw?

How does someone get Actinomyces?

Actinomycosis happens when the Actinomyces species of bacteria spread through the body because of tissue damage. Most people have Actinomyces bacteria in the lining of the mouth, throat, digestive tract, and urinary tract, and it is present in the female genital tract.

What is Actinomyces infection?

Actinomycosis is a long-term infection that causes sores, or abscesses, in the body's soft tissues. Actinomycosis is usually found in the: mouth. nose. throat.

Is actinomycosis serious?

Actinomycosis is a rare type of bacterial infection. It can be very serious but can usually be cured with antibiotics.

Which disease is caused by actinomycetes?

Actinomycosis is a rare chronic disease caused by Actinomyces spp., anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria that normally colonize the human mouth and digestive and genital tracts.

What is Cervicofacial actinomycosis?

Cervicofacial actinomycosis is a chronic disease characterized by abscess formation, draining sinus tracts, fistulae, and tissue fibrosis.

How do I treat actinomycosis?

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. Parenteral antibiotics are administered initially via PICC line, with transition to oral agents.

Is actinomycosis common?

Cervicofacial actinomycosis is the most common type of the infection, comprising 50-70% of reported cases. This infection typically occurs following oral surgery or in patients with poor dental hygiene.

What part of the world you are most likely to find cases of actinomycosis?

Abdominal actinomycosis is most common in the appendix, cecum, and colon. Abdominal surgery is the most significant risk factor. Skin and soft tissue actinomycosis is rare but can occur secondary to skin injury.

How is actinomycosis diagnosed?

Diagnosis of Actinomycosis

israelii or other Actinomyces species using microscopy and culture of sputum (ideally obtained endoscopically), pus, or a biopsy specimen. Imaging tests (eg, chest x-ray, abdominal or thoracic CT) are often done depending on findings.

What is lumpy jaw?

Lumpy jaw is an infectious bacterial disease commonly referred to as 'actino'. This disease is similar to wooden tongue and has the potential to be fatal. Treatment can be successful if disease is detected early. It is most commonly seen in cattle.

What infection is associated with sulfur crystals?

Actinomycosis abscesses grow larger as the disease progresses, often over months. In severe cases, they may penetrate the surrounding bone and muscle to the skin, where they break open and leak large amounts of pus, which often contains characteristic granules (sulfur granules) filled with progeny bacteria.

What antibiotics cover Actinomyces?

Preferred regimens — We generally suggest high-dose penicillin for actinomycosis [1-3]. Reasonable alternatives include ceftriaxone and amoxicillin.

Can actinomycosis be fatal?

Actinomycosis is a common treatable disease caused by Actinomyces, and generally has a good prognosis. However, we report a fatal case of actinomycosis of the nasal cavity.

Why is actinomycosis called lumpy jaw?

Actinomycosis, commonly called 'Lumpy Jaw', is caused by the bacteria Actinomyces bovis, which is a normal inhabitant of the bovine mouth. Actinomycosis is a chronic bacterial disease and is more common in cattle than in goats and sheep.