Actinomyces infection in female genital tract

OBJECTIVES: To analyze clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with pelvic actinomyces. STUDY DESIGN: We studied five patients with pelvic actinomyces who were admitted between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2002. The initial complaints, diagnostic methods, therapeutic alternatives and results of the therapies were examined. RESULTS: The ages of the cases varied between 32 and 52 years old. All five patients had been using an intrauterine device. Three cases had hydronephrosis due to infection. Two patients were diagnosed postoperatively while the other three cases were diagnosed with cervical smear and endometrial biopsy; penicillin G was administered to all. The patients are still under surveillance, and without any problems. CONCLUSION: In patients with an intrauterine device, actinomyces should be remembered in differential diagnosis of pelvic infections. Preoperative diagnosis is of the utmost importance in order to prevent morbidity of this infiltrative infection. Long-term penicillin therapy proved to be successful. Complicated or resistant cases to medical therapy should be candidates for surgical therapy.