Actinomicosis pélvica invasiva: un desafío para el ginecólogo / Invasive pelvic actinomycosis: a challenge for the gynecologist

Resumen La actinomicosis pélvica es una infección bacteriana supurativa crónica, producida por especies de Actinomyces, principalmente Actinomyces israelii, que afecta el aparato genital interno y las estructuras vecinas, asociada al uso prolongado de dispositivo intrauterino sin control en casi la totalidad de los casos descritos en mujeres. La actinomicosis pélvica suele presentarse como un absceso tubo-ovárico y con menor frecuencia como una actinomicosis pélvica invasiva (API). La API se propaga por contigüidad desde el aparato genital hacia las vísceras adyacentes, originando un tumor pélvico difuso, de consistencia leñosa, pseudotumoral, que a menudo se confunde con una neoplasia pélvica. La API representa un gran desafío para el ginecólogo por las dificultades en su diagnóstico y manejo. Se presentan dos casos de API y se revisan los procedimientos diagnósticos y terapéuticos recomendados actualmente para el enfrentamiento de esta patología.

Abstract Pelvic actinomycosis (PA) is a chronic suppurative bacterial infection, produced by Actinomyces, mainly Actinomyces israelii. It affects the internal genital tract, adjacent structures and is associated with a prolonged intrauterine device use with an inadequate control in almost all described cases in women. Pelvic actinomycosis usually presents as a tube ovarian abscess and less frequently as invasive pelvic actinomycosis (IPA). The IPA spreads contiguously from the genital tract to adjacent viscera, causing a diffuse, woody, pseudotumoral pelvic tumor that is frequently confused with a pelvic neoplasm. The IPA represents a great challenge for the gynecologist due to the difficulties in the diagnosis and management of this disease. Two cases of IPA are presented and the currently recommended diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for dealing with this pathology are reviewed.

Gemella morbillorum isolated from a pelvic abscess in an HIV-positive patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the perianal region.

Gemella morbillorumis a known commensal organism of the human oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary tract which is a rare cause of infections and even more rarely implicated in skin and soft tissue infections. We present a case of a young, HIV-positive patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the perianal region who presented with difficulty initiating urination for 1 week as well as increasing left leg swelling. His CD4 count was found to be 186, predisposing him to infection, and he had also received chemotherapy in the past year for his malignancy. He was febrile and tachycardic on presentation and admitted for further care. CT scan of the pelvis at time of admission demonstrated a pelvic abscess. Aspiration cultures ultimately grew G. morbillorum. Despite initial improvement with drainage and targeted antimicrobial therapy, the patient's abscess recurred, and he ultimately elected transition to hospice due to worsening prognosis of malignancy.

Secondary bacterial peritonitis and pelvic abscess due to Clostridium difficile.

A 70-year-old man with a history of hepatic cirrhosis presented with abdominal discomfort and distention. Physical examination revealed abdominal distention, positive fluid wave and abdominal tenderness. Due to concerns for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), paracentesis was performed. Fluid analysis revealed 5371 total nucleated cells with 48% neutrophils. Ceftriaxone was then initiated for the treatment of SBP. Bacterial cultures of the fluid, however, grew Clostridium difficile Therefore, metronidazole was added. An abdominal ultrasound revealed a pelvic fluid collection that was suspicious for an abscess on an abdominal CT scan. The patient underwent CT-guided drain placement into the pelvic fluid collection. The fluid aspirate was consistent with an abscess. However, cultures were negative in the setting of ongoing antibiotic therapy. The patient was treated with a 10-day course of ceftriaxone and metronidazole and was discharged home with outpatient follow-up.

[Genital actinomycosis and pelvic abscesses in a woman with a 13-year-old intrauterine device].

A 55-year-old woman who had had the same intrauterine device (IUD) for 13 years was referred to the gynaecology outpatient clinic due to constitutional symptoms, abdominal pain and vaginal discharge. Diagnostic imaging showed multiple pelvic abscesses, and severe chronic endometritis with Actinomyces was found in an endometrial biopsy. The patient underwent surgical drainage of the accessible abscesses and started long-term antibiotic treatment. This case report illustrates that actinomycosis is an important differential diagnosis in symptomatic women with IUD and suspected gynaecologic malignancy.

[Pelvic actinomycosis: Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects]. / Actinomycose pelvienne : aspects diagnostiques et thérapeutiques.

OBJECTIVES: Actinomycosis is a rare little known granulomatous suppurative disease, more common in women, aided by the use of contraceptive purposes intrauterine device (IUD). Pelvic location is the rarest with an extension to adjacent organs making preoperative diagnosis difficult and misleading clinical presentation. Early diagnosis of this affection determines the therapeutic strategy and avoids mutilating interventions especially in young women. METHODS: We reviewed the record of women who consulted the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Ben Arous hospital (Tunisia) between January 2003 and December 2013 for a pelvic pain syndrome and in whom diagnosis of actinomycosis was suspected by clinical and imaging and confirmed by pathology. RESULTS: Eight cases of gynecologic abdominopelvic actinomycosis were diagnosed during the study period. Seven patients were carriers of an intrauterine device, with an average duration of 5 years wearing. Functional signs were essentially pelvic pain and fever. Physical examination of patients mainly showed two clinical presentations: a pelvic tumor syndrome or abdominopelvic and an array of pelvic abscess or pelvic inflammatory disease. Radiological investigations were allowed to suspect the diagnosis of actinomycosis only in one patient, in whom percutaneous biopsy confirmed the histological diagnosis without resorting to a surgical procedure. Operative procedures performed were varied as appropriate. The diagnosis of actinomycosis was made by pathology without any cases of bacterial isolation. All patients received antibiotic treatment with penicillin. The subsequent evolution was favorable. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of actinomycosis should be considered in any invasive abdominal mass of neoplastic appearance and in case of table of genital infection especially in patients bearing IUD for 5 years or more.

Coccidioidomycosis Presented as a Pelvic Mass in an Otherwise Healthy Female.

We present a case of a 32 year old female with a past medical history of hypertension who presented with several years of chronic back pain and was ultimately diagnosed with isolated pelvic coccidioidomycosis. She was initially seen by gynecologic oncology for assessment of possible metastatic cancer by image study, but a cytopathologic diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis lead to a cancellation of the planned surgery and extensive antifungal treatment managed by the infectious disease team. She had no known previous pulmonary disease or immunodeficiency. Pelvic coccidioidomycosis without known pulmonary disease is very rare, and disseminated infection typically only occurs in those who are severely immunocompromised. Our case presented with several years of back pain and a pelvic mass mistaken for possible malignancy by image study.

Pelvic surgical site infections in gynecologic surgery.

The development of surgical site infection (SSI) remains the most common complication of gynecologic surgical procedures and results in significant patient morbidity. Gynecologic procedures pose a unique challenge in that potential pathogenic microorganisms from the skin or vagina and endocervix may migrate to operative sites and can result in vaginal cuff cellulitis, pelvic cellulitis, and pelvic abscesses. Multiple host and surgical risk factors have been identified as risks that increase infectious sequelae after pelvic surgery. This paper will review these risk factors as many are modifiable and care should be taken to address such factors in order to decrease the chance of infection. We will also review the definitions, microbiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of pelvic SSIs after gynecologic surgery.

Pelvic actinomycosis with abundant ascites, pleural effusion, and lymphadenopathy diagnosed with endometrial biopsy and treated with medication only.

OBJECTIVE: Pelvic actinomycosis almost always presents as a "dry" type, and pelvic actinomycosis with ascites is extremely rare. We present an unusual case of pelvic actinomycosis with ascites, pleural effusion, and lymphadenopathy. Because of these atypical clinical features, a malignant process such as ovarian cancer or peritoneal carcinomatosis was suspected, but an endometrial biopsy revealed pelvic actinomycosis, which was treated without surgical intervention. CASE REPORT: A 50-year-old Korean woman presented to our clinic with a 3-month history of abdominal pain and weight loss. An abdominopelvic computed tomography scan demonstrated ascites, pleural effusion, bilateral adnexal tubular structures, several enlarged lymph nodes in the paraaortic area, and diffuse peritoneal infiltration. Ultrasonography showed fluid collections measuring 2.7 cm in the cul-de-sac, 2.42 cm in the right paracolic gutter, and 3.13 cm in the left paracolic gutter. Endometrial/endocervical specimens showed marked chronic inflammation with sulfur granules, with a colony of filamentous organisms consistent with Actinomyces infection. The patient underwent antibiotic treatment for 6 months and recovered without complications or adverse events in the 13 months of follow up. CONCLUSION: Pelvic actinomycosis should always be considered in patients with a pelvic mass and peritoneal infiltration, especially in the presence of intrauterine device use, despite the fact that abundant ascites, pleural effusion, and lymphadenopathy almost never accompany pelvic actinomycosis. Endometrial/endocervical biopsy may yield a diagnosis without an invasive procedure and should be performed. Because of the excellent response to penicillin, medical treatment alone is an effective method to eradicate pelvic actinomycosis without the need for surgical intervention.

Screening and treating Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection to prevent pelvic inflammatory disease: interpretation of findings from randomized controlled trials.

We critically reviewed randomized controlled trials evaluating chlamydia screening to prevent pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and explored factors affecting interpretation and translation of trial data into public health prevention. Taken together, data from these trials offer evidence that chlamydia screening and treatment is an important and useful intervention to reduce the risk of PID among young women. However, the magnitude of benefit to be expected from screening may have been overestimated based on the earliest trials. It is likely that chlamydia screening programs have contributed to declines in PID incidence through shortening prevalent infections, although the magnitude of their contribution remains unclear. Program factors such as screening coverage as well as natural history factors such as risk of PID after repeat chlamydia infection can be important in determining the impact of chlamydia screening on PID incidence in a population. Uptake of chlamydia screening is currently suboptimal, and expansion of screening among young, sexually active women remains a priority. To reduce transmission and repeat infections, implementation of efficient strategies to treat partners of infected women is also essential. Results of ongoing randomized evaluations of the effect of screening on community-wide chlamydia prevalence and PID will also be valuable.

Salmonella ovarian abscess in young girl presented as acute abdomen--case report.

Ovarian abscess in young sexually non-active girls can represent a diagnostic challenge. 15-years old girl was admitted to the Clinic for Gynaecology and Obstetrics under the suspicion of torsion of an ovarian cyst. Her clinical status deteriorated after the admission with development of acute abdomen. Laparoscopic exploration was performed and unilateral ovarian abscess was found without involvement of other pelvic structures. The surgical procedure was minimal invasive for a young girl and Salmonella staleyville was isolated from pus. Solitary ovarian abscess can be of hematogenous origin and the causative pathogens are different from pathogens usually involved in pelvic inflammatory disease. To avoid later fertility problems it is of great importance to treat infections in pelvic region correctly according to the isolated microorganism and that surgery is the least invasive.

[Multicenter randomized controlled clinical study on levornidazole and sodium chloride injection in the treatment of pelvic anaerobic infections].

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of levornidazole in the treatment of pelvic anaerobic infections. METHODS: a multicenter randomized controlled clinical study was conducted to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of levornidazole. One hundred and fourty-three patients with pelvic anaerobic bacteria infection were classified into 70 cases treated by levornidazole in study group and 73 cases treated by Ornidazole in control group. Those patients in two groups were both administered at a dose of 0.5 g twice daily for 5 - 7 days. The rate of clinical efficacy, bacteria clearance and adverse effect were recorded and compared between two groups. RESULTS: at the endpoint, the rate of clinical efficacy were 80% (56/70) in study group and 81% (59/73) in control group, which did not reach significant difference (P > 0.05). The rate of bacteria clearance were 97% (36/37) in study group and 92% (22/24) in control group, which also did not reach significant difference (P > 0.05). The rate of adverse reaction of 3% (20/70) in study group was significantly lower than 22% (16/73) in control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: it is effective and safe to treat pelvic anaerobic infections with levornidazole and sodium chloride injection.

[Actinomycosis as a complication of intrauterine device use]. / Aktinomykose som komplikasjon til spiralbruk.

BACKGROUND: Infections in the female pelvis can present clinically in various ways and the causing agent can be difficult to trace. In this paper we present updated knowledge about infections caused by the bacterium Actinomycosis in relation to intrauterine device use. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The article is based on own clinical experience and literature identified through a non-systematic search in PubMed. RESULTS: Actinomycosis in the female pelvis is a rare disease and the pathogenesis is still obscure. The incidence in Scandinavia has not been established. The infection can cause tumor-like structures resulting in bowel and urinary obstruction. The bacteria can be difficult to detect. Preferably the agent should be demonstrated in a specimen from the infected area to ensure the correct diagnosis. However, Actinomyces is a normal inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract and is also present in 5 % of cervical smears from healthy women. The optimal treatment of actinomycosis is long-term treatment with penicillin, alone or in addition to surgery. INTERPRETATION: To avoid unnecessary and potentially difficult surgical procedures, actinomycosis should be a differential diagnosis when women with a longstanding intrauterine device develop signs of infection in addition to a pelvic mass. Intrauterine devices should be replaced every fifth year and should be removed at menopause.

[A case of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome in a male].

Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome has been described as focal perihepatitis accompanying pelvic inflammatory disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis. The highest incidence occurs in young, sexually active females. However, the syndrome has been reported to occur infrequently in males, according to the foreign literature. The predominant symptoms are right upper quadrant pain and tenderness, and pleuritic right sided chest pain. The clinical presentation is similar in men and women. In women, the spread of infection to liver capsule is thought to occur directly from infected fallopian tube via the right paracolic gutter. In men, hematogenous and lymphatic spread is thought to be postulated. Recently, we experienced a case of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome occurred in a man. As far as we know, it is the first report in Korea, and we report a case with a review of the literature.

Pelvic and abdominal-wall actinomycotic infection by uterus gateway without genital lesions.

We hereby aim to account on a case of actinomycotic infection occurred in a female patient with an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD). The infection occurred as a pseudo-tumour which raised differential diagnosis issues with a malignant tumour. The diagnosis has been eventually established following the pathologic examination of paraffin-embedded tissues. Although the infection's gateway was the uterus, the subsequent invasion of the parietal, urinary bladder and lateral rectal walls did not seem to affect the fallopian tubes or the ovaries.