Aggressive pulmonary destructive lesion caused by aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: a pediatric case report in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to describe invasive pneumonia with rib destruction caused by Aggregatibacter (Actinobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans that mimicked malignancy and tuberculosis of the chest on initial presentation. CASE PRESENTATION: We reported a case of A. actinomycetemcomitans pneumonia with rib destruction and reviewed similar published pediatric cases. It was noted in this case that Aggregatibacter (Actinobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans is a fastidious, slow-growing organism that caused pneumonia and rib destruction. It needed a long duration of therapy to eradicate the organism. CONCLUSIONS: Aggregatibacter (Actinobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans, a fastidious gram-negative bacillus that is part of the oral flora, is frequently found in human periodontal cultures and is an important pathogen causing various invasive infections. Pneumonia caused by A. actinomycetemcomitans is rare and treatment protocols are not well established.