title: Tuberculosis-like pneumonias by the aerobic actinomycetes Rhodococcus, Tsukamurella and Gordonia.
abstract: The order Actinomycetales includes phylogenetically diverse but morphologically similar aerobic and anaerobic organisms, exhibiting filamentous branching structures which fragment into rods or coccoid forms. Lung pathogens of the order comprise Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Corynebacterium, Actinomyces, Kytococcus, Rothia, Williamsia, as well as Gordonia, Tsukamurella and Rhodococcus. Particularly, members of the last three genera are uncommon aerobic agents of lung cavitations and tuberculosis(TB)-like syndromes, that should be carefully considered in the aetiology of parenchymal lesions. Correct identification of such organisms is hard to obtain, but is crucial to provide patients with adequate diagnose and treatment. Then, this review aims to unearth their airway tropism, as well as their clinical impact as agents of lung disease.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology and Virology, Spirito Santo Hospital, via Fonte Romana 8, CAP 65124, Pescara (Pe), Italy. vincsavi@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Savini
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fazii
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Favaro
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Astolfi
authors.forename: Ennio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polilli
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pompilio
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vannucci
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Amario
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Bonaventura
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Antonio
mesh_terms: D000192:Actinomycetales / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*