Pulmonary actinomycosis complicating COVID-19 pneumonia in an immunocompetent patient: a case report

Abstract

Several co-infections have been described in the context of COVID-19 but only few cases of actinomycosis following SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported in the literature. We report here the observation of a 48-year-old man, a smoker, who presented, in the aftermath of COVID-19 pneumonia requiring oxygen therapy a pyopneumothorax treated with antibiotic therapy and chest drainage. A few days later, he presented with hemoptysis. The diagnosis of actinomycosis was made based on histopathological data from endoscopic biopsies. The outcome was favorable under adapted and prolonged antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin. Pulmonary actinomycosis, although rare, should be suspected in front of lingering respiratory symptoms and/or atypical radiological findings in the context of a COVID-19.

Keywords

• Actinomycosis
• COVID-19
• severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2