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Actinomycosis of the middle ear

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2013

PJ Kullar  and
P Yates
PJ Kullar*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
P Yates
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr P Kullar, ENT Department, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DN, UK Fax: 0191 223 1246 E-mail: peterkullar@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Objective:

To present the first case of middle-ear actinomycosis in the UK in the last 60 years. The diagnosis and management of actinomycosis of the middle ear is also presented, as well as a review of the recent literature.

Case report:

This paper reports the case of a nine-year-old girl who presented with recurrent otorrhoea caused by actinomycosis. Mastoid exploration with clearance of the infected tissue, in conjunction with six months amoxicillin, resulted in long-term disease remission. Histology revealed Gram-positive, silver avid (on Grocott staining) and diastase-resistant periodic acid-Schiff negative staining of colonies; this profile was in keeping with the characteristic ‘sulphur granules’ of actinomycosis.

Conclusion:

Actinomycosis of the middle ear and mastoid is rare, with less than 45 cases presented in the worldwide literature. This case confirms that the disease should be treated with full surgical clearance and long-term antibiotics.

Keywords

Ear, MiddleMastoiditisActinomycosis
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 127 , Issue 7 , July 2013 , pp. 712 - 715
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2013 

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