title: Actinomyces meyeri: from "lumpy jaw" to empyema.
abstract: While the most common presentation of actinomycosis is cervicofacial disease, or "lumpy jaw syndrome," Actinomyces meyeri has a predilection for pulmonary disease as well as dissemination to distant organs. We describe a 61-year-old Caucasian male with a relapsing-remitting mandibular sinus tract who would go on to develop weight loss, dyspnea, and a cough productive of malodorous sputum. Imaging revealed a right lower lobe pneumonia and a large left sided empyema. He underwent thoracotomy and decortication on the left side, and 1 L of foul-smelling purulent fluid was drained. Culture grew Actinomyces meyeri. He completed an extended antibiotic course and had his teeth extracted with good clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Western Michigan University School of Medicine, 1000 Oakland Dr, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA, amy.attaway@med.wmich.edu.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Attaway
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Flynn
mesh_terms: D000190:Actinomyces / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004653:Empyema / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*; D014081:Tooth Extraction