Acid-fast actinomyces in a child with pulmonary actinomycosis

Abstract

Open-lung biopsy in a child with chronic pneumonia revealed branched grampositive acid-fast organisms, later identified as Actinomyces israelii. Like Nocardia asteroides, A. israelii can be acid fast by the commonly used Putt stain. The pneumonia was cured with 12 weeks of penicillin treatment.