Primary Actinomycosis of the Foot: A Case Report and Literature Review

Actinomycosis is an indolent, slowly progressive, suppurative infection caused by gram-positive branching bacteria of the genus Actinomyces. The organism is a part of the oral and gastrointestinal microflora of humans. The most common parts of body involved in actinomycosis are cervicofacial (55% of patients), abdominopelvic (20%) and pulmonothoracic (15%). Involvement of other parts of the body is uncommon and is usually secondary to a lesion in one of the above sites. Extremity involvement can occur secondarily through direct extension or hematogenous spread. Primary actinomycosis of an extremity is very rare. Here we present a case of cauliflower growth over the foot thought to be squamous cell carcinoma but later proved to be primary actinomycosis on biopsy.