[Actinomycosis after renal transplantation: apropos of 1 case and review of the literature]

Nephrologie. 2001;22(1):21-3.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Actinomycosis is a suppurative infection usually due to a facultative anaerobic bacteria, actinomyces israelii. This rare infection has been reported in immunocompetent individuals, with buccal or pharyngeal mucosal erosions. Paradoxically, few cases have been observed after solid organ transplantation: 2 cases after lung, 1 case after heart-lung transplantation and 1 case after renal transplantation. We report on a renal transplant recipient who developed a tongue and oropharynx suppurative abscess, looking like an epithelioma. Histological examination showed granulomatous inflammation with an angiofibroblastic reaction; few colonies of actinomyces were also observed by the pathologist. This lesion disappeared easily and totally after tetracycline treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Actinomyces / isolation & purification
  • Actinomycosis / drug therapy
  • Actinomycosis / etiology*
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Glossitis / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Pharyngitis / microbiology
  • Tetracycline / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Tetracycline