Actinomycosis

Wong, Vanessa K., Turmezei, Thomas and Weston, V. C. (2011) Actinomycosis. British Medical Journal (BMJ), 343. ISSN 0959-8138

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Abstract

- Although rare, a high level of clinical suspicion is needed to diagnose and cure actinomycosis in patients with indolent, unresolving, or relapsing chronic inflammatory disease. - Actinomyces are commensals that become pathogenic when the mucosa is breached, and co-infection with other organisms is common. - Disease is defined by anatomical location; orocervicofacial disease is the most common, followed by thoracic and abdominopelvic disease. - A mass characteristically enlarges across tissue planes and local tissue invasion may lead to the formation of sinus tracts that can spontaneously heal and recur. - Actinomycosis often mimics other infections and malignancy—clinically and radiologically. - It is generally treated with long term antibiotics, usually penicillin, but surgery may be needed.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	02 Jul 2020 00:03
Last Modified:	19 Jul 2023 10:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/75869
DOI:	10.1136/bmj.d6099

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