Nocardial Mycetoma pedis: A Case Report Study

Abstract

Nocardiosis is an uncommon infection caused by Nocardia species, a group of aerobic actinomycetes. Nocardiosis may affect immunocompromised or immunocompetent patients and as this case was affected by a rare disorder, we describe it in this study. This paper describes a case of nocardial mycetoma from a hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The case was a 52-year-old man with diabetes mellitus, who was admitted to our institution with a 5-year history of right lower extremity swelling with multiple discharging sinuses localized in distal part of the leg and dorsum of the foot following a penetrating injury to the affected foot. The wound culture yielded the growth of Nocardia species after incubation. Nocardiosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of skin lesions, especially if patients have a history of trauma or contact with soil-contaminated materials. Our reported case increases knowledge about this rare, sporadic infection in our country.

Keywords

• nocardia infections
• mycetoma
• immunocompromised host
• wounds
• injuries