Actinomyces israelii: a rare cause of thoracic empyema.
Actinomyces israelii usually causes chronic suppurative and granulomatous infections. Isolated pleural effusion due to Actinomycosis is rare. This report describes an unusual case of thoracic empyema caused by A. israelii with sudden onset and rapid deterioration that failed to respond to chest tube drainage and antibiotherapy. Empyema drainage and visceral parietal pleurectomy by a left postolateral thoracotomy proved to be of vital importance and a permanent solution.
Department of Chest Surgery, Theagenio Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Athanassios
A
Kleontas
Christos
C
Asteriou
Andreas
A
Efstathiou
Eleftheria
E
Konstantinou
Charilaos
C
Tsapas
Nikolaos
N
Barbetakis
D000190:Actinomyces / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004322:Drainage; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents