Understanding Actinomyces Odontolyticus: A Rare Culprit of Bacteremia

Actinomyces species are gram-positive filamentous non-acid fast anaerobic to microaerophilic bacteria that belong to human oral, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tract flora. Cervicofacial, abdominopelvic, and pulmonary infections are the most common presentations. Hematogenous spread is extremely rare and has been associated with Actinomyces meyeri, Actinomyces israelii, and Actinomyces odontolyticus. It affects individuals with poor oral hygiene, heavy alcohol intake, immunosuppressed, and underlying pulmonary diseases typically between the second and sixth decades of life with the peak incidence being between the fourth and fifth decades. We present a case of A. odontolyticus bacteremia in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and chronic sinusitis.