Abstract
Bacteriologic investigations were made on five cases of oral actinomycosis, and clinical findings and treatment of actinomycosis are discussed. Gram-positive branching rods or filaments were cultured from sulfur granules of five patients. As a result of a gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of end products of glucose fermentation and some biochemical reactions, two strains were identified as Actinomyces naeslundii and the other three were identified as Actinomyces spp. other than A. naeslundii. All strains were very sensitive to PCG, ABPC, CEX, EM, TC, MINO, CLDM, and GM. According to clinical symptoms, the lesions were divided into two groups: with extra-oral swelling and intra-oral manifestations. The former group was clinically more resistant to treatment and required long term administration of antibiotics. The latter was readily cured with surgical intervention and short period administration of antibiotics.
