Disseminated nocardiosis due to Nocardia otitidiscaviarum: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Rationale: Disseminated nocardiosis due to Nocardia otitidiscaviarum is rarely reported in immunocompetent hosts. Patient concerns: A 59 year old male patient complained of painful soft tissue swellings and fever for two days. Diagnosis: Disseminated nocardiosis due to Nocardia otitidiscaviarum. Interventions: Initial antimicrobial therapy with imipenem and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was switched to 6 weeks of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, linezolid and tigecycline after sensitivity test results were available. Thereafter, the patient was switched to maintenance trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and moxifloxacin. Prednisolone was gradually tapered. Outcomes: Soft tissue swelling and pain disappeared and the patient was discharged uneventfully. Lessons: Disseminated nocardiosis due to Nocardia otitidiscaviarum should be suspected in immunocompetent hosts with risk factors such as medication with prednisolone. Early identification of the causative species and susceptibility results is crucial given the diverse resistance patterns amongst various Nocardia species.

Keywords

• disseminated nocardiosis
• nocardia otitidiscaviarum
• corticosteroids