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Article in Japanese
Abstract
Case Report
A case of pulmonary infection with Actinomyces and Nocardia identified in bronchial washing fluid
Hideto Oshita* Naokazu Watari Tatsuki Takahashi Misato Senoo Kunihiko Funaishi Ken Okusaki
Department of Internal Medicine, Mihara Medical Association Hospital
*Present address: Department of Respiratory Internal Medicine, Federation of National Public Service and Affiliated Personnel Mutual Aid Associations, Yoshijima Hospital
ABSTRACT
A chest computed tomography (CT) in a 57-year-old woman showed centrilobular shadows in the left lower lobe about 1 year ago. She complained of bloody sputum, and a further chest CT showed increased shadowing, for which bronchoscopy was performed. Gram staining of bronchial washing fluid showed gram-positive rods with branching filamentous hyphae, corresponding to Actinomyces graevenitzii and Nocardia wallacei in culture. Antimicrobial treatment was discontinued after a short time due to side effects. However, after carious tooth treatment and guidance about soil exposure avoidance, her bloody sputum improved, and the shadow had almost disappeared on CT. For actinomycete infections, countermeasures against the sources of exposure to the infection should be actively undertaken.
KEYWORDS
Actinomycetes Soil exposure Carious tooth Mixed infection
Received 27 May 2021 ／ Accepted 12 Jul 2021
AJRS, 10(5): 398-401, 2021
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