Dental Abscess: Actinomyces israelii – Shipped August 14, 2017
HISTORY
A simulated dental abscess sample collected from 44 year old male smoker was sent to category A laboratories.
Participants were expected to isolate, identify, and report Actinomyces israelii.
MAIN EDUCATIONAL POINTS from M172-4
- Anaerobic cultures should be done on deep tissue abscesses, particularly those located adjacent to an oral-mucosal surface.
- Extended incubation of anaerobic plates may be required in order to recover slow-growing organisms including Actinomyces species, especially if branching gram positive bacilli are seen in Gram-stained smears, or if clinically suspected.
