A Curious Case of Actinomyces Naeslundii Bacteremia in a Patient with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer.

Although considered a saprophyte, Actinomyces naeslundii can cause invasive infection leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Rarely encountered, bacteremia with this agent occurs in the setting of disrupted mucosal barriers. Previous studies suggest that actinomycosis may be a surrogate marker for poor prognosis in immunocompromised hosts. We report herein a case of a patient with metastatic pancreatic cancer who not only had a prompt resolution of Actinomyces bacteremia and a complete response to chemotherapy, but also remained disease free at 12 months after diagnosis. Our case may suggest that concomitant actinomycosis may not necessarily portend a poor prognosis in all immunocompromised patients.