https://doi.org/10.4081/itjm.2024.1708

Actinomyces turicensis: a peculiar case of empyema after COVID-19 in a patient with ulcerative colitis

Vol. 18 No. 2 (2024)
Published: 9 May 2024
Actinomycosis, Actinomyces turicensis, empyema, ulcerative colitis, Clostridium ramosum
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Authors

Federico Marzi
federico.marzi@uslsudest.toscana.it
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2958-3353
UOC Internal Medicine, “S. Giovanni di Dio” Hospital, Azienda Usl Toscana Sud Est, Orbetello (GR), Italy.
Antonio D'Errico
UOC Internal Medicine, “S. Giovanni di Dio” Hospital, Azienda Usl Toscana Sud Est, Orbetello (GR), Italy.
Mario Alessandri
UOC Internal Medicine, “S. Giovanni di Dio” Hospital, Azienda Usl Toscana Sud Est, Orbetello (GR), Italy.
Veronica De Crescenzo
UOC Internal Medicine, “S. Giovanni di Dio” Hospital, Azienda Usl Toscana Sud Est, Orbetello (GR), Italy.
Maurizio Manini
UOC Internal Medicine, “S. Giovanni di Dio” Hospital, Azienda Usl Toscana Sud Est, Orbetello (GR), Italy.

Actinomyces species are recognized as common mucosal bacteria in humans and as a newly discovered source of infection. Since its discovery in 1995, the subspecies Actinomyces turicensis has been reported as the causative pathogen of numerous infections. Only two instances of A. turicensis-related empyema, however, have been documented in the literature as of late. We report a unique case of polymicrobial empyema caused by A. turicensis shortly after a COVID-19 without any clear risk factors for anaerobic aspiration, along with a brief review of the literature. Tetracycline was successfully used for the first time to treat A. turicensis empyema, following chest drainage.

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How to Cite

Marzi, F., D’Errico, A., Alessandri, M., De Crescenzo, V., & Manini, M. (2024). <i>Actinomyces turicensis</i>: a peculiar case of empyema after COVID-19 in a patient with ulcerative colitis. Italian Journal of Medicine, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/itjm.2024.1708
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