A LONG-TERM EVALUATION OF AUREOMYCIN IN THE TREATMENT OF ACTINOMYCOSIS

Abstract

Five patients with actinomycosis treated with aureomycin were followed for 36, 33, 32, 32 and 30 mos., respectively. There was no evidence of recurrence. Three of these were cases of localized cervicofacial actinomycosis, while in a 4th instance there was direct extension involving the mandible. The 5th patient had the abdominal form of the disease. Two additional cases of actinomycosis have been observed for 6 and 3 mos., respectively. The latter patient developed disseminated actinomycosis complicated by infection with Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus and hemorrhagic nephritis. Aureomycin is an effective agent against Actinomyces bovis both in vitro and in vivo. Despite apparently excellent clinical results in both localized and generalized forms of actinomycosis using aureomycin, a period of 5 yrs. after treatment may be necessary definitely to establish the presence of cure.