title: Actinomyces Species Isolated from Breast Infections.
abstract: Actinomycosis is a chronic infection caused by Actinomyces species characterized by abscess formation, tissue fibrosis, and draining sinuses. The spectrum of infections caused by Actinomyces species ranges from classical invasive actinomycosis to a less invasive form of superficial skin and soft tissue infection. We present a review detailing all Actinomyces species isolated from breast infections in NHS Lothian between 2005 and 2013, Actinomyces species isolated from breast infections referred to the United Kingdom Anaerobe Reference Unit between 1988 and 2014, and cases describing Actinomyces breast infections published in the medical literature since 1994. Actinomyces species are fastidious organisms which can be difficult to identify and are likely to be underascertained as a cause of breast infections. Due to improved diagnostic methods, they are increasingly associated with chronic, recurrent breast infections and may play a more significant role in these infections than has previously been appreciated.
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Breast Unit, Western General Hospital, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, Scotland a.bing@nhs.net krisorri@landspitali.is.
authors.forename: A U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Bing
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Breast Unit, Western General Hospital, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, Scotland.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.affiliation: United Kingdom Anaerobe Reference Unit, Cardiff, Wales.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: United Kingdom Anaerobe Reference Unit, Cardiff, Wales.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Breast Unit, Western General Hospital, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, Scotland.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, Scotland a.bing@nhs.net krisorri@landspitali.is.
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Helgason
mesh_terms: D000190:Actinomyces / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008413:Mastitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult