Diagnosis and treatment of cervicofacial actinomycosis

Abstract

Actinomyces israelii is an anaerobic commensal microorganism of the human oral cavity. It infrequently causes an infection that is polymicrobial and mutalistic in nature. The infection, actinomycosis, has a variable clinical course, which may be acute or indolently chronic. The differential diagnosis includes pyogenic and fungal infections, tuberculosis, and neoplasm. A high diagnostic index of suspicion for actinomycosis when late or recurrent postextraction infection occurs benefits the patient and the practitioner. A prolonged course of penicillin therapy remains the contemporary treatment of choice. Excisional or secondary restorative surgery may be necessary.