Diagnóstico de actinomicosis: un desafío

Actinomycosis is a bacterial infection that presents a significant diagnostic challenge for clinicians due to its rarity and chronic progression. Diagnosis is usually made through pathological or microbiological examination, sometimes at the cost of unnecessary and costly interventions. The aim of this study is to illustrate the diagnostic difficulties of this pathology and to evaluate its therapeutic and progression aspects.

This is a retrospective study of actinomycosis cases collected between 1991 and 2023.

We collected 17 cases of actinomycosis. They were 7 men and 10 women, with a sex ratio (M/F) of 0,7 The mean age was 43 ±13 years. The mean time to diagnosis was 110 (30-540) days. The different locations were cervicofacial (7 cases), abdominal (2 cases), pelvic (1 case), cerebral (3 cases), and disseminated (3 cases). The diagnosis was made microbiologically in 4 cases and pathologically in 13 cases. The mean duration of antibiotic therapy was 18 (3-35) days. Eight patients received surgical treatment associated with antibiotic therapy. The outcome was favorable in 16 cases.

Actinomycosis can be confused with tumors or infections due to its variable clinical presentation. Anatomopathological examination plays a crucial role in the diagnosis. Prompt and appropriate treatment leads to a favorable prognosis, highlighting the importance of enhanced awareness of this condition to optimize disease management.