Nocardia Asteroides Infection

Primary pulmonary nocardiosis: case report

“…Tuberculosis is often considered in the radiological differential diagnosis. In this case the pleural involvement was somewhat atypical, although it has been described before (Larsen et al, 1959). The hepatic enlargement and raised alkaline phosphatase were probably non-specific findings related to the patient's toxaemia.…”

“…Freese, Young, Sealy, and Conant (1963) found one case per annum in a 500-bed general hospital in the United States. Larsen, Diamond, and Collins (1959) described seven cases over five years, five of their patients suffering from malignant disease in addition.…”

Nocardiosis in anaemic patients given steroids

“…Septicaemia following the development of localized abscesses is well recognized and Nocardia have been isolated from the blood (Larsen, Diamond, and Collins, 1959). In Case 1 it seems likely that Nocardia were disseminated throughout the blood stream about two months before death, being localized in the brain.…”

Pulmonary nocardiosis in a 3-year-old child

“…The in vitro sensitivities can be misleading in treatment. Unlike Actinomyces, Nocardia is almost invariably resistant to penicillin, while streptomycin, erythromycin, novobiocin, and chloramphenicol have been reported to be effective in some patients (Hathaway and Mason, 1962;Larsen, Diamond, and Collins, 1959). Seabury and Dascomb (1964) were unable to show any definite effect with amphotericin B and advocate sulphadiazine and cycloserine in the initial treatment of nocardiosis.…”