title: Perianal actinomycosis: a case study of this rare infection associated with nicorandil usage.
abstract: Perianal actinomycosis infection is a very rare occurrence and is challenging to diagnose. Nicorandil is a potassium channel agonist, which is used in the treatment of ischaemic heart disease. Its usage is associated with perianal ulceration and delayed surgical wound healing. We report a case of actinomycosis complicating a chronic perianal ulcer, which was associated with long-term nicorandil usage. It raised the suspicion of malignancy and required over six months of antimicrobial treatment to achieve satisfactory healing. Perianal actinomycosis results in chronic infection which spreads across tissue planes and can resemble an ulcerated malignancy. Nicorandil usage can result in perianal ulceration and produces conditions which are conducive to actinomycosis infection. In such cases, nicorandil therapy should be discontinued, if possible, and long-term systemic antibiotics form the mainstay of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Borders General Hospital, Melrose, Scotland, UK. danielablett@hotmail.com
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ablett
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wylie
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Berlansky
mesh_terms: D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000368:Aged; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020108:Nicorandil / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014456:Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D020108:Nicorandil