Diagnostic and Therapeutic Considerations in Nocardia Asteroides Infection

Palmer, Darwin L.; Harvey, Ronald L.; Wheeler, Jamie K.

doi:10.1097/00005792-197409000-00005

Cited by 312 publications

(131 citation statements)

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“…Four successive reviews of 180 cumulative cases reported in the medical literature established this microorganism as an unusual cause of human pulmonary infection (31,250,292,310). However, it was not until the retrospective analysis by Presant (434). These and other more recent reviews have suggested that nocardiosis is an increasingly recognized cause of opportunistic infection that may be associated with a variety of underlying disorders, receipt of chemotherapeutic agents, or both (41,43,124,641).…”

Section: Nocardia Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The medically important aerobic actinomycetes: epidemiology and microbiology

1994

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The aerobic actinomycetes are soil-inhabiting microorganisms that occur worldwide. In 1888, Nocard first recognized the pathogenic potential of this group of microorganisms. Since then, several aerobic actinomycetes have been a major source of interest for the commercial drug industry and have proved to be extremely useful microorganisms for producing novel antimicrobial agents. They have also been well known as potential veterinary pathogens affecting many different animal species. The medically important aerobic actinomycetes may cause significant morbidity and mortality, in particular in highly susceptible severely immunocompromised patients, including transplant recipients and patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. However, the diagnosis of these infections may be difficult, and effective antimicrobial therapy may be complicated by antimicrobial resistance. The taxonomy of these microorganisms has been problematic. In recent revisions of their classification, new pathogenic species have been recognized. The development of additional and more reliable diagnostic tests and of a standardized method for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and the application of molecular techniques for the diagnosis and subtyping of these microorganisms are needed to better diagnose and treat infected patients and to identify effective control measures for these unusual pathogens. We review the epidemiology and microbiology of the major medically important aerobic actinomycetes.

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Section: Nocardia Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The medically important aerobic actinomycetes: epidemiology and microbiology

1994

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“…In an older review of 243 cases of Nocardia asteroides infections, there were no osteomyelitis cases, while a total of 12 cases of Nocardia spinal osteomyelitis have been published over the past 40 years [13,16]. Most cases of osteomyelitis are secondary, resulting from direct extension from a primary lung or cutaneous lesion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Primary sternal osteomyelitis caused by Nocardia nova: case report and literature review

Baraboutis¹,

Argyropoulou²,

Papastamopoulos³

et al. 2008

Braz J Infect Dis

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A 51 year old woman without significant past medical history or risk factors for Nocardia infection developed primary Nocardia nova sternal osteomyelitis with mediastinal abscess, diagnosed with open biopsy. She required prolonged antibiotic therapy and had a favorable outcome. Primary sternal osteomyelitis develops in the absence of a contiguous focus of infection, as opposed to secondary sternal osteomyelitis, which is usually a complication of sternotomy. Staphylococcus aureus probably still is the most common cause of both forms of sternal osteomyelitis. Nocardia species invade humans usually through the respiratory tract and can cause a variety of localized infections through the hematogenous route. Pulmonary involvement may or may not coexist. Immunosuppressed patients are more prone to infection by Nocardia species, although cases involving seemingly immunocompetent patients are not rare. This is the first reported case in the English literature of primary sternal osteomyelitis due to Nocardia nova or any other Nocardia species.

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“…Manydifferent tissues are susceptible to infection, resulting in a multiplicity of potential clinical manifestations. However, pulmonary infection is the most common (1). Pulmonary nocardiosis likely arises from inhalation of organisms from contaminated soil.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Pulmonary nocardiosis likely arises from inhalation of organisms from contaminated soil. Patients deficient in cell-mediated immunity, especially those receiving systemic corticosteroids, with lymphoma, AIDS, or following transplantation, are at high risk from this opportunistic infection (1)(2)(3)(4). Nocardiosis is also associated with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic granulomatous disease ( 1-3).…”

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confidence: 99%