Actinomycosis

Aktinomyces
Aktinomyces and nocardia represent a transition between bacteria and fungi – they form long branching fibers. The main representatives are:


 * 1) Actinomyces israeli – anaerobic or microaerophilic, they are located in the oral cavity (often in tonsillar crypts)
 * 2) Nocardia asteroides – aerobic, acid resistant, saprophyte organism in soil and plants

Aktinomycosis
Aktinomycosis is a chronic infection caused by Actinomyces israeli. Local inflammatory changes (generalization from pyemia is rare) have a dual nature: The untreated process continues to spread per continuity, neither fascia nor bone will stop it.
 * 1) purulent colliquative necrosis – formation of abscesses, possibly fistulas
 * 2) fibroproduction – scarring

Morphology
The basic morphological manifestation is a scarring inflammatory infiltrate in the form of large, rigid, inaccurately demarcated pseudotumorous formations permeated by abscesses (so-called actinomycoma). The presence of drusen formed by actinomycete fibers is important (center is compact, on the periphery the fibers are arranged radially, at the edges thickened and strongly eosinophilic - so-called Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon from the reaction between antigen and antibody). Drusen are also visible macroscopically as sulfur yellow granules that can leave with pus fistulas.

Forms
According to the localization, several forms of actinomycosis are distinguished:
 * 1) cervicofacial – it starts anywhere in the oral cavity and pharynx, especially in the gums of the lower jaw, inflammatory swelling and the formation of fistulas are visible on the outside, which open many abscesses on the outside
 * 2) intrathoracic – most often lung infections by aspiration of actinomycetes from the oral cavity, or per continuity or hematogenously from the cervicofacial or abdominal form, actinomycosis of the lungs has the character of chronic abscess pneumonia
 * 3) abdominal – it is caused by propagation from the chest or it is a primary intestinal actinomycosis probably of deglutinous origin, the appendix is ​​most often affected, again it is a purulent and fibro productive process with the formation of adhesions between neighboring organs and with the formation of fistulas (external and internal), mesenteric vein thrombophlebitis leads to portal pyemia – there are multiple abscesses in the liver
 * 4) cutaneous – rarely arises primarily (deep inflammatory infiltrate, abscesses burst through fistulas and ulcers, the process spreads deep and engulfs the fascia, muscles and other tissues), it usually arises from the collapse of deeper processes

Diagnostics

 * microscopic examination or cultivation
 * more often histological examination

Therapy

 * penicillin for 6-8 weeks
 * alternatives are tetracycline, chloramphenicol, macrolides, clindamycin

Prevention

 * oral hygiene, regular toothbrush replacement and dentist visits

Nokardiosis

 * affects primarily the lungs (granuloma formation, similar to tuberculosis), compared to actinomycosis, it has a greater tendency to generalize - mainly to the brain and skin
 * a combination of antibacterial (sulfonamide, cefotaxime, aminoglycosides) and surgical treatment is preferred in therapy

Mycetoma (maduromycosis)

 * chronic skin diseases in tropical and subtropical areas
 * it mainly affects the lower limbs
 * the causative agents are bacteria (nocardia and streptomycetes) as well as fungi

Related articles

 * Antimycotics
 * Immune defense against intracellular bacteria and fungi