Actinomyces species (Actinomycoses)

Actinomycosis is an infrequent sporadic human disease. The natural reservoir for A. israelii and other agents responsible for actinomycosis is man. In the normal oral cavity, these microorganisms grow as saprophytes in dental plaque, and in tonsillar crypts, without apparent invasion or cellular response in adjacent tissues. There are no specific measures for preventing actinomycosis; however, maintenance of good oral and dental hygiene, particularly removal of dental plaque, may reduce risk of oral infection including low-grade periodontal disease withActinomyces species (89). Actinomycosis is a non-notifiable disease and investigation of contacts and a source of infection is not indicated. Similarly, the care of infected patients does not require specific isolation precautions be maintained. Clinicians and patients should be aware of the risk of actinomycosis when intrauterine devices are used.

There are no commercially available vaccines for use in the prevention of actinomycosis, but before the modern antibacterial drugs had been introduced into therapy a polyvalent heterovaccine developed by Lentze was shown to provide comparatively good therapeutic results especially in severe chronic cases that had not responded to any other treatment (47).

47. Lentze F. Die Aktinomykose und die Nocardiosen. In: Grumbach A, Bonin O, eds. Die Infektionskrankheiten des Menschen und ihre Erreger, vol I, 2nd ed. Stuttgart: Georg Thieme, 1969:83-92.

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