Nocardia farcinicabrain abscess in a patient without immunocompromise

Abstract

Brain abscess has an incidence of 1 per 100,000 in developed countries and a mortality rate of 10%. Cerebral infections with Nocardia farcinica have a mortality of up to 90%. Nocardial species are important pathogens in immunocompromised hosts, but infections in immunocompetent patients are extremely rare. We report a case of primary brain abscess with N. farcinica in a patient without immunosuppression, which was treated with surgery and a one-year course of oral moxifloxacin.

Supratentorial and infratentorial brain abscesses: surgical treatment, complications and outcomes—a 10-year single-center study

“…BA occurs in 1/100,000 people annually in developed countries, and are more common in adult males [8,12] between 20 and 40 years old [3,6,17] and in children between 4 and 7 years old [7]. The incidence of this condition has grown as a consequence of increased numbers of immunocompromised patients [9].…”

Immunocompetent patient with Nocardia abscessus brain abscess: Case report and review of the literature

“…[9][10][11] Nocardia brain abscess typically occurs in immunocompromised patients and less commonly in immunocompetent hosts. [12] We describe a case of an immunocompetent 34-year-old male with a Nocardia abscessus brain abscess and review similar reported cases in the literature.…”

Disseminated Nocardia farcinica in an immunocompetent patient

“…Other cases of Nocardia farcinica brain abscess in immunocompetent patients have been reported in the literature [10], [13], [14], [15], [16]. Table 2 shows their treatments and outcomes.…”