The first report of disseminated Nocardia concava infection, in an immunocompromised patient, in South Korea

A new Nocardia species, N. concava, was first reported in Japan in 2005. To date, there have been only 3 case reports of N. concava infection worldwide (2 in Japan and 1 in China), and only 1 of these reports has detailed the clinical characteristics of N. concava, in China. Here we report the first case of disseminated infection caused by N. concava– in a patient with a history of glucocorticoid use–in South Korea. Species identification of N. concava was done with 16S rRNA sequencing and was confirmed by biochemical tests using urea, xanthine, tyrosine, and hypoxanthine decomposition. The patient was successfully treated with trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole.     

Reversible Alterations in Brain Metabolites During Therapy for Disseminated Nocardiosis Using Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

We report reversible abnormalities in magnetic resonance spectra acquired from a patient with AIDS undergoing antibiotic and corticosteroid therapy for disseminated nocardiosis, a rare opportunistic infection of immunosuppressed patients which can cause cerebral abscess formation. There was no clinical, CT or MRI evidence of HIV-1 encephalitis. MR spectra were acquired before and after treatment using a two-dimensional chemical shift imaging technique (TR 1500ms, TE 130ms). Prior to treatment, a rise in the choline to creatine ratio and a reduction in the N-acetylaspartate to creatine ratio were observed in MR spectra localized to areas of the left anteromedial centrum semiovale that appeared normal on MR imaging. After 16 weeks, the patient had recovered with complete resolution of the cerebral abscesses on MRI. The MR spectral abnormalities also returned to normal. Two months later, the patient had a relapse with focal neurological signs and further abscesses were demonstrated on MRI of the brain. The patient subsequently died and histopathological and microbiological findings at autopsy confirmed the clinical picture of a recurrence of cerebral nocardiosis with no evidence of HIV-1 encephalitis. This case illustrates reversible MR-measurable metabolite changes in the brain of an HIV-seropositive patient without HIV-1 encephalitis who underwent treatment for cerebral nocardiosis.     

Pulmonary nocardiosis during immunosuppressive therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Nocardiosis is a subacute or chronic suppurative infection caused by Nocardia species. Although it is more common in immunocompromised hosts, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has not been recognized as a predisposing factor for nocardial infection. We report a case of IPF, in which pulmonary nocardiosis developed during treatment with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide. The risk of pulmonary nocardiosis may be increased in cases of IPF on immunosuppressive therapy. Since IPF often accompanies lung carcinoma, it is important to correctly differentiate nocardiosis from carcinoma.     

Pulmonary Nocardiosis in a Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Patient

Nocardiosis is an opportunistic infection especially in immunocompromised patients. Lungs are the most common infection sites and therapy poses some difficulties. We describe a case of pulmonary infection with Nocardia asteroides in a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patient. Although the mortality from pulmonary nocardiosis is high in immunocompromised patients, our patient was successfully treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ) and amikacin. Maintenance therapy with TMP/SMZ was continued for 1 year. This case supports the importance of the long-term maintenance treatment after the initial combination therapy. Received: June 10, 2001 · Revision accepted: December 8, 2001     

肺诺卡菌病诊治的研究进展

肺诺卡菌病（PN）是由诺卡菌导致的严重的肺部感染性疾病,临床少见,易被误诊为肺部其他细菌、真菌、结核感染性疾病、肿瘤、血管炎等。PN常发生于全身或肺部局部免疫功能缺陷的宿主,临床症状主要表现为发热、咳嗽、咳痰等,影像学表现包括实变、结节、肿块及空洞等,肺部典型病理损害为坏死性脓肿,慢性感染者形成有肉芽肿,目前尚无特异性的血清学标志物,实验室检查可见外周血白细胞、C反应蛋白等炎症指标升高,低淋巴细胞、低白蛋白血症亦常见。确诊依靠病原学检查,镜下诺卡菌菌体呈多向分枝丝状,可表现为白色、黄色或紫色的粉状或天鹅绒样菌落,细菌培养所需时间较长,易致漏诊,分子技术有助于诊断。治疗上应足量、足疗程、个性化,将药敏试验作为指导。磺胺是主要的治疗药物,联合治疗可作为初始治疗。早期诊断、及时治疗是该病预后的关键。     

1例盖尔森基兴诺卡菌血流感染病原学诊断报告

目的 加强对诺卡菌病的认识,以提升其临床诊疗水平。方法 回顾分析乐山市人民医院肾病内科的1例盖尔森基兴诺卡菌血流感染的临床资料,包括临床表现、实验室检查、影像学检查、诊疗情况等。结果 此病人的临床表现及影像学检查缺乏特异性,检验人员镜检发现其革兰氏染色涂片结果为革兰阳性、分枝状长杆菌,细菌的16S rRNA测序分析证实为盖尔森基兴诺卡菌。结论 诺卡菌病多发生于机体免疫受损及合并慢性基础疾病的人群,临床表现和影像学缺乏特异性,诊断需依赖于病原学检查,合格标本的采集和革兰氏染色对诺卡菌病是早期诊断及正确治疗的重要步骤。     

Nocardiosis in a patient with pemphigus foliaceus treated with rituximab

Rituximab is a chimeric human/murine monoclonal anti‐CD20 antibody. This agent is an effective therapeutic option in severe types of pemphigus. However, rituximab may cause opportunistic infections if used in immunosuppressed patients. We reported a case of diffuse Nocardia infection following rituximab treatment in pemphigus foliaceus. Rheumatoid arthritis protocol applied in our patient. Rituximab was used at a dose of 1000 mg every 2 weeks. Because the disease was not adequately controlled, rituximab treatment was administered six times every 15 days. One week after the sixth dose of the rituximab, she presented lassitude and multiple palpable masses in soft tissue of the upper extremity. Thereafter, the aspirate culture of the abscess on the left shoulder was taken and confirmed to be disseminated nocardiosis. She was treated with linezolid and meropenem for 1 month; however, amikacin was added because the patient did not respond adequately to linezolid and meropenem therapy. The patient died of cardiac arrest because of her comorbidities. In this case, prolonged administration of rituximab therapy may have caused the development of nocardiosis. Therefore, all patients should have a sensible balance of risk and benefit, considering the use of rituximab.     

Disseminated nocardiosis after unrelated bone marrow transplantation

Nocardiosis is a rare bacterial infection occurring mainly in patients with deficient cell‐mediated immunity. Although disseminated nocardiosis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) is a rare complication, it is associated with high mortality. Moreover, after allo‐HSCT, nocardiosis may be mistaken for other bacterial or fungal infections because clinical and radiographic findings of pulmonary, cerebral, and cutaneous nocardiosis lesions are non‐specific. Here, we report a case of disseminated nocardiosis (caused by Nocardia abscessus) with skin, pulmonary, liver, lymph node, and multiple brain abscesses in a patient after allo‐HSCT. The patient initially responded clinically and radiographically to imipenem/cilastin and trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole therapy. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of nocardiosis in allo‐HSCT recipients who are treated with multiple immunosuppressive agents to control chronic graft‐versus‐host disease. Accurate diagnosis and identification of disseminated nocardiosis is important to ensure administration of the correct antibiotic regimen.     

Disseminated subcutaneous nocardiosis caused by Nocardia farcinica diagnosed by FNA biopsy and 16S ribosomal gene sequencing

Nocardia is an infrequent but significant cause of infections in the immunocompromised host. Clinical syndromes are varied and ranges from pulmonary, disseminated, cutaneous, and CNS involvement. Here we describe a case of disseminated subcutaneous nodules in a patient with multiple myeloma caused by Nocardia farcinica. The diagnosis was made by FNA biopsy which revealed gram positive filamentous bacilli in background of acute inflammation on smears. This was confirmed by 16S ribosomal gene sequencing. Prompt identification of N. farcinica is important because of its intrinsic resistance to broad spectrum cephalosporins and high risk of dissemination.     

皮肤巴西诺卡菌感染1例及文献复习

患者男,55岁,左前臂、背部红肿热痛4 d.皮肤科情况:左前臂、背部分别可见一大小约3 cm x3 cm皮肤红肿,局部皮温增高,皮色暗红,局部皮肤破溃,有渗液,触痛明显.脓液细菌培养及鉴定为巴西诺卡菌.诊断:原发性皮肤巴西诺卡菌感染.经脓肿切开引流术及阿米卡星抗感染治疗后好转,出院1个月后随访伤口恢复良好.