Cervicofacial actinomycosis: a long forgotten infectious complication of immunosuppression - report of a case and review of the literature

Dermatol Online J. 2014 May 16;20(5):22640.

Abstract

Actinomycosis is a rare chronic granulomatous infection caused by Gram-positive, non-acid-fast, anaerobic to microaerophilic bacteria.We report a case of cervicofacial actinomycosis in an 86-year-old woman undergoing immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprine and prednisone for rheumatoid arthritis. She underwent a dental treatment several months earlier. The diagnosis of culture-negative actinomycosis was based on histolopathology findings and the isolation of companion bacteria. The patient was treated with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid for 3 months, which produced complete clearance of her cervicofacial actinomycosis.Our case points out the pitfalls of diagnostic procedures in actinomycosis and the ability of this rare disease to mimic other medical conditions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Actinomycosis, Cervicofacial / diagnosis*
  • Actinomycosis, Cervicofacial / drug therapy
  • Actinomycosis, Cervicofacial / immunology*
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / therapeutic use
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • Azathioprine / adverse effects
  • Azathioprine / therapeutic use
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Prednisone / adverse effects
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination
  • Azathioprine
  • Prednisone