Actinomycosis from a toothpick injury

Tale of a Toothpick: Eikenella corrodens Osteomyelitis

“…The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated 8,176 toothpick-related injuries over a 4 year period (1979)(1980)(1981)(1982) [13].The injuries were mostly gastrointestinal. Infectious complications of such injuries have included not only infections with E. corrodens, but other organisms such as Streptococcus milleri and Actinomyces spp., causing septic arthritis, and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, causing septicemia [14][15][16].…”

Fatal Necrotizing fasciitis Caused by a Toothpick Injury

“…Adjunctive subcutaneous granulocyte-colony stimulating factor 300 mg/d was given simultaneously with prompt and sustained recovery of neutrophil count to \ 1.5 ×10 9 /l in 5 d. However, fever persisted and hence bronchoscopy was performed and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was obtained for microbiological studies. A concentrated sample of the BAL was examined by KOH wet mount (6), which showed numerous encapsulated, cystic structures consistent with cleistotheca of Aspergillus spp. (Fig.…”