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Colon Ascendens Stent Peritonitis CASP - a Standardized Model for Polymicrobial Abdominal Sepsis
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Colon Ascendens Stent Peritonitis CASP - a Standardized Model for Polymicrobial Abdominal Sepsis

Published on: December 18, 2010

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Secondary peritonitis by

Vítor Neves Lopes1, Maria Jesus Dantas1,2, Paulo Andrade2,3

  • 1Department of Surgery, Centro Hospitalar Tâmega e Sousa, Penafiel, Portugal.

Porto Biomedical Journal
|April 8, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Abdominal actinomycosis, a rare infection, can cause prolonged illness if unrecognized. This case highlights successful treatment with antibiotics after surgery for a perforated gastric ulcer.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Gastroenterology
  • Surgical Pathology

Background:

  • Abdominal actinomycosis is an uncommon bacterial infection caused by Actinomyces species.
  • Delayed diagnosis of actinomycosis can lead to severe complications, including prolonged sepsis and disease recurrence.
  • The clinical presentation of abdominal actinomycosis can mimic other intra-abdominal pathologies, complicating diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of abdominal actinomycosis presenting as secondary peritonitis.
  • To discuss the diagnostic challenges and management strategies for this rare condition.
  • To emphasize the importance of considering actinomycosis in the differential diagnosis of intra-abdominal infections.

Main Methods:

  • Case presentation of a 53-year-old female patient with secondary peritonitis.
  • Surgical intervention for a perforated gastric ulcer attributed to a foreign body.
  • Treatment with a prolonged course of penicillin-derived antibiotics.

Main Results:

  • The patient's peritonitis was secondary to abdominal actinomycosis.
  • Surgical repair of the perforated gastric ulcer was performed.
  • A long course of penicillin-derived antibiotics was administered post-operatively.

Conclusions:

  • Early recognition and appropriate treatment are crucial for managing abdominal actinomycosis.
  • Penicillin-derived antibiotics remain a cornerstone of therapy for actinomycosis.
  • This case underscores the importance of a high index of suspicion for rare infections in complex intra-abdominal presentations.
Keywords:
Abdominal actinomycosisActinomyces odontolyticusSecondary peritonitis

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