Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis Co-infection in SARS-CoV-2 Patients

Abstract

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, few cases of Nocar­dia spp. co-infection have been reported during or after a COVID-19 infection. Nocardia spp. are gram-positive aerobic actinomycetes that stain partially acid-fast, can infect immunocompromised patients, and may cause dis­seminated disease. We report the case of a 52-year-old immunocompromised man who had Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis pneumonia develop after a SARS-CoV-2 in­fection. We also summarize the literature for no­cardiosis and SARS-CoV-2 co-infections. Nocardia spp. infection should remain a part of the differential diagnosis for pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts, regardless of other co-infections. Sulfonamide/carbapenem combina­tions are used as empiric therapy for nocardiosis; species identification and susceptibility testing are required to se­lect the optimal treatment for each patient.

Keywords

• nocardiosis
• co-infection
• Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis
• SARS-CoV-2
• COVID-19
• opportunistic infections