Abstract
Thoracic actinomycosis is an uncommon, chronic suppurative bacterial infection caused by Actinomyces species. Thoracic actinomycosis represents about one-fourth of all cases of actinomycosis. We report a case of left sided pleural effusion with hydropneumothorax with collapse and consolidation of left lung with discharging sinus in the left anterior chest wall. Actinomycosis was suspected and confirmed by microscopic identification of sulfur granules in the discharge of the sinus tract and also identification of gram-positive filamentous bacteria in the specimen of discharging sinus.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.14(4) 2015 p.417-41
Highlights
Actinomycosis is a rare, chronic slowly progressive granulomatous infection caused by Actinomyces 1
The Grampositive filamentous anaerobic bacilli is the normal flora of oropahrynx, gastrointestinal tract and female genital tract[2].The most common clinical forms of actinomycosis are cervicofacial (55%), abdominopelvic (20%) and thoracic (15%) 3
The infection may present as pulmonary infiltrate or a mass which can involve the pleura, pericardium and chest wall leading to sinus tract formation[6]
Summary
Actinomycosis is a rare, chronic slowly progressive granulomatous infection caused by Actinomyces 1. Pulmonary actinomycosis results from aspiration of oropahreangeal secretion containing actinomyces 4. The infection may present as pulmonary infiltrate or a mass which can involve the pleura, pericardium and chest wall leading to sinus tract formation[6]. Due to nonspecific and varied clinical and radiologic presentations diagnosis of pulmonary actinomycosis is difficult and often lead to delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis as tuberculosis, lung abscess or lung cancer[7, 8].
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