Pulmonary actinomycosis - Treatment

Alternative Names

Actinomycosis - pulmonary

Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to cure the infection. However, many patients take a long time to get better. To be cured, you may need to receive penicillin through a vein (intravenously) for 4 - 6 weeks, followed by several months of penicillin by mouth. Some people need up to 18 months of treatment.

If you cannot take penicillin, other antibiotics are available. These include tetracyclines, macrolides, or clindamycin.

Surgery may be needed to drain fluid from the lungs and control the infection.

Expectations (prognosis):

Most people get better after treatment with antibiotics.

Complications:

Brain abscess
Destruction of parts of the lungs
Emphysema
Meningitis
Osteomyelitis (bone infection)

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if:

You have symptoms of pulmonary actinomycosis
Your symptoms get worse or do not improve with treatment
You develop new symptoms

Respiratory system

Reviewed last on: 5/25/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Brook I. Actinomycosis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 350.

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