Actinomyces pneumonia: a case report

Abstract

In this report we present a study case of a 62 year- old male smoker presenting fever, caugh, asthenia and
hypoxemia with a history of high blood pressure The CT-Scan shows areas of consolidation with caverns
inside and a nodule suggestive of a neoplastic process. The bacterial culture of the cavern identified
Actinomyces Naeslundii. Lung infection by A. Naeslundii is a rare and slowly progressive disease, which
is often underdiagnosed because it can mimic other pathologies such as neoplasms, deep mycoses and
tuberculosis, so a high level of clinical suspicion is necessary to make an early diagnosis.
Currently, there are no published data that reveal a worldwide incidence of this condition, only a few reports
of similar cases. The prognosis worsens in the thoracic and generalized forms with respect to the most
frequent forms of presentation, and is directly related to early diagnosis and timely treatment of the disease.