Actinomyces israelii
Actinomyces israelii
Actinomyces israelii (/ækˌtɪnəˈmaɪsiːz ɪzreɪˈliːaɪ/) is a species of Gram-positive bacteria within the genus Actinomyces. It is primarily known for its role in human disease, specifically Actinomycosis, a rare and chronic bacterial infection.
Etymology
The name Actinomyces israelii is derived from the Greek words "aktis" meaning ray and "mykes" meaning fungus, due to its fungus-like appearance in tissue, and "israelii" in honor of the German surgeon James Adolf Israel who first discovered it.
Characteristics
Actinomyces israelii is an anaerobic, or microaerophilic, organism that is not acid-fast, does not form spores, and is not motile. It is a normal inhabitant of the human mouth and is not usually pathogenic, but can cause disease when it gains access to deep tissues.
Disease
Actinomyces israelii is the most common cause of Actinomycosis, a chronic granulomatous disease that typically affects the face and neck. Symptoms can include abscess formation, tissue fibrosis, and draining sinuses. The disease is often mistaken for a neoplasm or tuberculosis due to its chronic nature and the presence of sulfur granules in the pus.
Treatment
Treatment of infections caused by Actinomyces israelii typically involves long-term antibiotic therapy, often with a combination of penicillin and surgery to drain abscesses or remove infected tissue.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Actinomyces israelii
- Wikipedia's article - Actinomyces israelii
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski