[Actinomyces israelii. Methods of isolation and identification. Apropos of 10 cases]

Actinomyces israelii was isolated from cervico-facial subacute or chronic infections (9 cases), and abdominal wall abscess (1 case). Two conditions were necessary for successful isolation of A. israelii: properly collected clinical specimen (pus aspirated from abscess or biopsy) and prolongated incubation of anaerobic cultures (at minimum 5 days). Two commercially available micro-method multitest systems (Api 20 anaerobes, Api Zym test) were compared with standard biochemical procedures. The three methods were evaluated as to the reproducibility and help in identifying anaerobic non spore-forming Gram-positive bacilli in a routine clinical laboratory.