Methods The ocular samples viz., corneal swab, corneal scraping, aqueous tap and vitreous tap were processed for culture and the isolated Nocardia species were further confirmed for speciation by standard microbiological procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility analysis for the confirmed isolates of N. asteroides was performed by agar disk diffusion method following the guidelines of Clinical Labo...

Problems in management of ulcerative keratitis may arise from delays in diagnosis and from inadequate response to treatment. In the present case, a corneal injury was followed by Nocardia asteroides keratitis. The organism isolated was sensitive in vitro to both sulphonamides and penicillin, but there was no satisfactory clinical improvement with sulphonamides alone. Good response to treatment ...

Studies in vitro of the sensitivity to trimethoprim and sulphonamides of nine strains of N. asteroides, two strains of N. caviae, and one of N. blackwellii are presented. No unequivocal evidence of synergism was found. Despite this, the inclusion of trimethoprim in the drug regime when sulphonamides are used in the treatment of nocardiosis is suggested on empirical grounds.

Experimental mycetoma-like lesions developed in guinea pigs after subcutaneous injection of Nocardia asteroides. Although delayed hypersensitivity appeared earlier, increased macrophage migration inhibition and microbicidal activity appeared after 7 weeks. When the lesions healed, high cell-mediated immunity was present. Cell-mediated immunity was transferred to normal recipient guinea pigs fro...

The principal findings of a study for further evaluating paraffin baiting as a routine laboratory diagnostic procedure in the isolation of Nocardia asteroides, the etiological agent of nocardiosis, are reported.

1. Mamelak AN, Obana WG, Flaherty JF, Rosenblum ML. Nocardial brain abscess: Treatment strategies and factors influencing outcome. Neurosurgery 1994;35:622‐31. doi: 10.1227/00006123‐199410000‐00007. 2. Gendelman H, Rappaport J, Hickey W. The blood‐brain barrier: Defensive shield or a perpetrator of microbial invasion? J Neurovirol 1999;5:533‐7. doi: 10.3109/13550289909021283. 3. Wallace RJ Jr, ...

presence of fungal agents in lesions of two patients in tehran was studied. one of them had clinical symptoms of mycetoma in his foot, and the other had a skin infection in his arm. examination of the lesions indicated nocardia asteroides. these patients did not show any evidence of nocardia infection in other parts of the body. negative results were obtained from the cultures of blood and sputum.

A case of corneal ulceration due to infection with Nocardia asteroides is described. Microbiological examination of corneal scrapings permitted accurate diagnosis and suggested appropriate therapy. Nineteen other cases that have been described in the world literature are reviewed.