A Case of Disseminated Infection due to Actinomyces meyeri Involving Lung and Brain.

Author: Hyun Jung PARK ¹ ; Ki Ho PARK ; Sung Han KIM ; Heungsup SUNG ; Sang Ho CHOI ; Yang Soo KIM ; Jun Hee WOO ; Sang Oh LEE
Author Information

1. Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. soleemd@amc.seoul.kr
Publication Type:Case Report
Keywords: Actinomyces; Sequence analysis; RNA; Brain abscess
MeSH: Actinomyces*; Actinomycosis; Brain Abscess; Brain*; Lung Neoplasms; Lung*; Neoplasm Metastasis; RNA; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sequence Analysis
From:Infection and Chemotherapy 2014;46(4):269-273
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: Actinomyces meyeri is rarely isolated in cases of actinomycosis. The identification of A. meyeri had historically been difficult and unreliable. With the recent development of 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) sequencing, Actinomyces species such as A. meyeri can be isolated much more reliably. A. meyeri often causes disseminated disease, which can be secondary to frequent pulmonary infections. A penicillin-based regimen is the mainstay of A. meyeri treatment, with a prolonged course usually required. Here, we report a case of pulmonary actinomycosis with brain abscess caused by A. meyeri that was initially thought to represent lung cancer with brain metastasis.