Identification 12/19/11
Acid Fast Stain Negative
16S rRNA gene Sequencing Result: Actinomyces naeslundii
Organism is:
•Microaerophilic or anaerobic
•Gram(+) branching bacilli
•Non spore-forming
•Non acid-fast
found in the oral cavity of humans and other animals
major component of dental plaque
periodontal disease and opportunistic infections
Oral and cervicofacial infections
infections occur in concert with other pathogens such as prevotella, fusobacterium,
bacteriodes, and S. aureus
In our patient, this was likely not a pathogen, but contaminating oral flora in the
sputum specimen