Blood culture positive Nocardia asteroides infection: a case report

Wien Med Wochenschr. 2013 Jan;163(1-2):37-9. doi: 10.1007/s10354-012-0156-2. Epub 2012 Nov 28.

Abstract

We report a case of nocardiosis in a patient with several risk factors for this rare infection. Radiologically, the patient's multiple lung abscesses were misinterpreted as pulmonary metastases. Diagnosis was finally reached by the growth of Nocardia asteroides in two different blood culture sets. Nocardia bacteraemia is a rare clinical event. Despite initiation of an effective antibiotic therapy, the patient died. Autopsy revealed disseminated nocardial abscesses in the lungs, the kidneys and the brain.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abscess / diagnosis*
  • Abscess / drug therapy
  • Abscess / pathology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacteremia / diagnosis*
  • Bacteremia / drug therapy
  • Bacteremia / pathology
  • Brain Abscess / diagnosis*
  • Brain Abscess / drug therapy
  • Brain Abscess / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Kidney Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Kidney Diseases / drug therapy
  • Kidney Diseases / pathology
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Liver Neoplasms / surgery
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Abscess / diagnosis*
  • Lung Abscess / drug therapy
  • Lung Abscess / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / surgery
  • Nocardia Infections / diagnosis*
  • Nocardia Infections / drug therapy
  • Nocardia Infections / pathology
  • Nocardia asteroides*
  • Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis*
  • Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy
  • Opportunistic Infections / pathology
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / pathology
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnosis
  • Postoperative Complications / drug therapy
  • Risk Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents