[A patient with generalized actinomycosis].
A 36-year-old man was admitted because of haemoptysis and weight loss. Despite elaborate investigations, including multiple biopsies of affected organs (pleura, lung, kidney and liver) no diagnosis was established. The patient refused further diagnostic procedures and left hospital for winti treatment in Surinam. He did not take the prescribed pheneticillin and returned after seven weeks in a very poor condition. The second admission was complicated by septic shock. Despite intensive treatment he died. On autopsy actinomycosis abscesses were found in lung, liver and kidney. Even when suspected, an infection with Actinomyces is difficult to diagnose. Without adequate treatment this infection can lead to life-threatening complications.
Gerards
A H
AH
St. Lucas Andreas Ziekenhuis, afd. Inwendige Geneeskunde, Amsterdam.
van den Bosch
J
J
van Henten
M J
MJ
van Meyel
J J
JJ
D000038:Abscess / Q000382:microbiology*; D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D009426:Netherlands; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013532:Suriname / Q000208:ethnology
D010406:Penicillins