Actinobaculum massiliae: a new cause of superficial skin infection

Abstract

Actinomycete-like organisms are well recognised members of normal mucosal flora but some strains are thought to contribute to commensal skin flora too. From here they may become pathogenic. The actinomyces family has undergone significant taxonomic revision in recent years. A new species, Actinobaculum massiliae, closely related to Actinomyces spp., was first discovered in 2002. This case describes only the second human infection and the first reported skin infection due to this organism, whose normal habitat is currently unknown.