ACTINOMYCETES

• Transitional forms
b/w bacteria n fungi
Like fungus,they
form mycelial
network
Like bacteria,they r thin,possess
muramic acid in cell wall,have
prokaryotic nuclei,susceptible to
antibiotics
GENERA OF MEDICAL INTEREST
• Actinomyces from Greek "actis" ray, beam
and "mykes" mucus, fungus, is a genus of the
actinobacteria class of bacteria.
• A.israelii- most common species
• Normal flora of mouth ,intestine,vagina
• Invasion favoured by trauma,foreign
body,poor oral hygeine
 ACTINOMYCOSES
• Chronic granulomatous infection occuring in
man n animals
• Characterised by development of indurated
swellings mainly in connective tissue
• Suppuration n discharge of sulphur granules
• Multiple sinuses
• Endogenous infection
 ACTINOMYCOSES
• In man occurs in 4 main clinical forms
• 1.cervicofacial-most common
• Painless,slow growing hard mass,fistula
• LUMPY JAW
• 2.thoracic
• 3.abdominal
• 4.pelvic- associated with IUCD
 LAB.DIAGNOSIS
• 1.SPECIMEN COLLECTION-PUS
• SPUTUM
• 2.MACROSCOPY
• 3.MICROSCOPY
• 4.CULTURE
• MACROSCOPY-demonstration of granules
• Sulphur granules may be demonstrated in pus
by mixing saline n pus in a test tube n shaking
• .
• Granule size=5mm
• MICROSCOPY-crush granules b/w slides,Gram
stain,examine under coverslip
• Granules consist of dense network of thin
Gram positive filaments surrounded by
peripheral zone of swollen radiating club
shaped structures presenting sun ray
appearance.
• Granules are bacterial colonies.
• Clubs are ag-ab complexes.
• (bacterial polysacchrides,host cell
polypeptides)
• CULTURE-BHI AGAR
• SPECIMEN-pus,sulphur granules
• anaerobic incubation at 37.C
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
• Common world wide
• MC in rural,agricultural areas
• Young males MC affected
• Pelvic actinomycoses MC. In females using
IUCD
 TREATMENT
• PENICILLIN
• TETRACYCLINE
• SURGERY
NOCARDIA
• Resembles Actinomycetes
morphologically
• All species are ---- aerobic, gram positive
• Some are acid fast eg: N.astroides and N.
brasiliense
• Frequently found in soil so infection may
be exogenous
 STAINING…
• Modified Z N Stain-1%H2SO4(decolouriser)
• KINYOUN- METHOD