Actinomycosis osteomyelitis of the extremity and periprosthetic joint infection caused by actinomycetes

Introduction. Osteomyelitis of the long tubular bones of the extremities and periprosthetic infection (PPI) of actinomycotic origin is extremely rare. Most publications are devoted to actinomycotic osteomyelitis of the lower jaw, bones of the facial skull, sternum and vertebrae. Diffi ulties in diagnosis lead to a delay in the appointment of etiotropic therapy and a worsening of the prognosis for such patients. Th purpose of the study. To evaluate the frequency of detection of actinomycetes in patients with osteomyelitis of long tubular bones and periprosthetic infection and to raise awareness of practitioners about actinomycosis in orthopedic patients. Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of the frequency of isolation of Actinomyces spp. from patients who were treated in the departments of the center from 01.01.2010 to 31.12.2022. A clinical case of actinomycotic osteomyelitis in a patient who was treated in the department of purulent osteology in 2022 is presented. Results. Actinomycotic osteomyelitis of long tubular bones is a rare localization of the process, leading to frequent errors in diagnostic and therapeutic tactics. There are only descriptions of isolated clinical cases in the literature, and the incidence of periprosthetic infection of this etiology is higher than the lesion of native joints. Conclusion. Actinomycosis, osteomyelitis, periprosthetic infection, bone actinomycosis, antibacterial therapy