Actinomycosis is a bacterial infection with actinomycetes, which leads to abscess formation with pus accumulations, which are surrounded by connective and granulation tissue and spread to the surrounding tissue.
It is usually mixed infection from the involved bacteria actinobacillus, enterobacteriaceae and staphylococci. The bacterial pathogen enters the blood system through a fistula formation, causing bacteremia. The result of a such bacteremia can be blood poisoning, which can lead to death through a septic shock.
Actinomycosis differs in 4 different types and some special cases, all of which are actinomycetes. The most common form is cervicofacial actinomycosis. It is triggered by Actinomyces israelii and is usually caused by an injury to the oral cavity. The infection is endogenous.
Saliva aspiration or spreading cervicofacial actinomycosis produces thoracic actinomycosis. Abdominal actinomycosis is caused by bowel injuries or bacterial infections from the female genitalia. Cutaneous actinomycosis belongs to a rare form and can occur after injuries with salivary transmission.
The actinomycosis of the tear ducts and the liver by hematogenous scattering belong to the special forms.
The disease is thought to be linked to hormonal imbalances, as men have three times the incidence than women do. The prognosis is unfavorable due to the high recurrence rate, especially infections in the area of the thorax are life-threatening.