A healthy 42-year-old Japanese woman presented with a 7-day history of a painful palpable mass under her chin (Picture A). A computed tomography scan demonstrated a subcutaneous abscess (Picture B and C), which was aspirated by an otolaryngologist. Kinyoun staining of the specimen showed positive results (Picture D), and the organism was identified as Nocardia brasiliensis by culture and 16s rR...

Nocardia species are aerobic, gram-positive, filamentous, partially acid-fast actinomycetes which are found worldwide in soil and decaying organic plant matter. When they infect human beings, they generally enter through the respiratory tract and then disseminate systemically. Rarely has a primary infection occurred as the result of direct inoculation. Isolation of Nocardia from clinical specim...

Dissemination of primary cutaneous nocardiosis is a rare event. An interesting case of a 20 year old female labourer with progressive weakness in both the lower limbs and large multiple subcutaneous abscesses over the back, since 4 years, is presented. MRI showed an epidural abscess compressing the cord. Histopathology of skin lesions suggested a chronic suppurative lesion. Microbiological test...

Nocardiosis is an opportunistic, localized or disseminated granulomatous infection caused by an aerobic actinomycete most commonly found in soil, decomposing vegetation, and other organic matter, as well as in fresh and salt water 1. Infection most commonly occurs through the respiratory tract. Manifestations of disease range from cutaneous infection caused by traumatic inoculation of the organ...

TMP-SMX: trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole INTRODUCTION Primary cutaneous nocardiosis has a diverse variety of clinical presentations; thus, a high degree of clinical suspicion is essential in making the diagnosis and avoiding inappropriate treatment or surgery. We present the case of a patient with mycetoma on the back with contiguous extension to the cervicothoracolumbar musculature and pleura ca...

Nocardia species are aerobic, gram positive filamentous branching bacteria that have the potential to cause localized or disseminated infection. Nocardiosis is a rare disease that usually affects immunocompromised patients and presents as either pulmonary, cutaneous or disseminated nocardiosis. Forty-two year-old hispanic male presented to our care with bilateral lower extremity weakness, front...