A case of primary hepatic actinomycosis coinfected with alpha-streptococcus / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative and granulomatous disease caused by gram-positive bacteria, the Actinomyces, which normally resides in the mouth cavity and large bowel. Actinomyces and other bacterial species are concomitantly, on occasion, found, having been designated "companion microbes". Designing a therapeutic regimen that includes coverage for "companion microbes" during the initial treatment course is reasonable. Primary hepatic actinomycosis, which was not found in possible source or associated disease and was coinfected with alpha-strepotcoccus, has not yet been reported in Korea. We report a case of primary hepatic actinomycosis coinfected with alpha-streptococcus presenting fever, chill, right upper quadrant abdominal pain as chief complaints in a 63-year-old woman. Primary hepatic actinomycosis was confirmed by identification of the sulfur granule, which was obtained by ultrasonography-guided percutaneous needle aspiration and biopsy.