Mycetoma Caused by Actinomadura (Streptomyces) madurae

The actinomycete Actinomadura madurae has been isolated for the first time in South Africa from a case of mycetoma pedis. A. madurae and A. pelletieri are two closely related though separate pathogens which were formerly regarded as species of Nocardia and Streptomyces, and are now placed in a newly created genus Actinomadura. They have been isolated from river water by Transvaal botanists and by us from clinical cases of mycetoma. Irrigated soil possibly serves as a habitat selecting for pathogenicity in man. Surgery can be postponed or possibly avoided by correct identification of the causative agent and appropriate chemotherapy in the case of A. madurae infection.S. Afr. Med. J. 48, 433 (1974