Infection and Drug Resistance (Dec 2022)
Brain Abscess Caused by Nocardia brevicatena in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report
Abstract
Xiaoxu Li,1,* Shifang Zhuang,2,* Lin He,2 Shanmei Wang,3 Ming Zhao,1 Xiaodong Lyu4 1Department of Neurosurgery, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Genskey Medical Technology Co., Ltd, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Clinical Laboratory, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Central Laboratory, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiaodong Lyu, Central Laboratory, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou, 450000, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +8613523417973, Email [email protected]: Nocardia brain abscess is relatively rare and generally occurs in immunodeficient patients. Here, we present the first case of brain abscess due to Nocardia brevicatena in an immunocompetent patient, with unknown origin. In this case, a 49-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with limb twitching and complained of a history of intermittent headache. He was diagnosed with brain abscess through brain imaging and cured after craniotomy for abscess excision and targeted antibiotic treatment. Surgical specimens were sent for further detection. The causative organism was identified by weak acid-fast staining, culture and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). We hope this case could provide a reference for incoming patients as well as their clinical management.Keywords: brain abscess, Nocardia brevicatena, non-immunocompromised, mNGS, surgical treatment
