From the Oral, Maxillofacial and Reconstructive Surgery Clinic, Baqiyalallah Medical Center, Imam Hosein University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Abstract: (4296 Views)
Actinomycosis, a rather uncommon infection of the oral cavity, poses and
unusual problem: recurrence. Primary or initial diagnosis of the disease is difficult
and can be made easier only if the clinician bears in mind a few important facts: a
previously compromised site is usually present, a slow, low-grade, almost painless
infectious course is prevalent which tends to localize, and responds to short-term
antibiotic therapy only to be followed shortly by recurrence. It is stated that with this
set of features the patient should be considered to have actinomycosis until proven
otherwise. This report presents a rather unusual case of cervicofacial actinomycosis
which occurred secondary to an attempted surgical extraction of an impacted
maxillary third molar tooth. The organism was sampled under anaerobic conditions,
identified, isolated and confirmed by Gram's stain, culture, and biochemical tests,
respectively. Cure was obtained only after surgical drainage, debridement, and oral
antibiotic administration continuing for approximately three months.
Type of Study:
case report |
Subject:
Surgery