Actinomyces turicensis: a peculiar case of empyema after COVID-19 in a patient with ulcerative colitis

Abstract

Actinomyces species are recognized as common mucosal bacteria in humans and as a newly discovered source of infection. Since its discovery in 1995, the subspecies Actinomyces turicensis has been reported as the causative pathogen of numerous infections. Only two instances of A. turicensis-related empyema, however, have been documented in the literature as of late. We report a unique case of polymicrobial empyema caused by A. turicensis shortly after a COVID-19 without any clear risk factors for anaerobic aspiration, along with a brief review of the literature. Tetracycline was successfully used for the first time to treat A. Turicensis empyema, following chest drainage.