title: [Three patients with thoracic actinomycosis].
abstract: Thoracic actinomycosis was diagnosed in 3 patients. A 39-year-old man with no relevant medical history was admitted with syncope and hemiparesis. Radiological examination of the thorax and cerebrum revealed abnormalities. The second patient was a 50-year-old man with pneumonia that had not responded to multiple courses of different antibiotics. The third patient was a 42-year-old man admitted for evaluation and treatment of hepatopulmonary abnormalities. Actinomyces was cultured from purulent material obtained under anaerobic conditions as far as possible from the first 2 patients; the third patient was diagnosed by histopathological examination. All 3 patients recovered completely after long-term antibiotic therapy. Actinomycosis remains a diagnostic challenge due to the inherent difficulties in culturing anaerobic bacteria. In addition, false-positive results are possible because Actinomyces is present in the oropharynx, digestive tract and female genital tract under normal conditions.
authors.affiliation: Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, Afd. Longziekten, Utrecht.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Krivokuca
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: de Lange
authors.forename: J-W J
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lammers
mesh_terms: D000190:Actinomyces / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013896:Thoracic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents