Infections Caused by Branching Filamentous Organisms

Question 1

Actinomyces spp.

Actinomyces israelii

Answer 1

Actinomycosis- slowly progressive, suppurative, fibrosing infection involving the jaw, thorax, abdomen.
Gram + rods that are flora to oropharynx, GI, vagina
Do not normally cause disease. Must inoculate deeper tissues & have anaerobic atmosphere to proliferate
Sulfur granules, Splendore-Hoeppli Material (polysaccharide-protein matrix)

Question 2

Nocardia asteroides

Answer 2

Suppurative Respiratory Infection in Immunocompromised Hosts
Gram + filamentous, branching, weakly acid fast (distinguish from actinomycetes)
Soil-borne organisms-respiratory tract entry
Pyogenic pneumonia, pulmonary abscesses, can metastasize to brain and skin prove to be fatal

Question 3

Narcardia brasiliensis

Narcardia caviae

Answer 3

Pulmonary nocardiosis