Nocardiosis with brain abscess due to an unusual species, Nocardia transvalensis

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2003 Feb;127(2):224-6. doi: 10.5858/2003-127-224-NWBADT.

Abstract

The identification of Nocardia transvalensis, an unusual and probably underrecognized cause of nocardial infection, is clinically significant because of this species' resistance to aminoglycosides, a standard antinocardial therapy. Diagnosis requires analytic methods available predominately in reference laboratories. We report a case of disseminated infection with N transvalensis with primary pulmonary involvement and subsequent development of brain abscesses, and review the literature to date. Familiarity with the epidemiology, pathologic findings, and clinical significance of this and other unusual Nocardia species may increase early identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing in cases of nocardial infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aminoglycosides
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / metabolism
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain Abscess / diagnosis*
  • Brain Abscess / drug therapy
  • Brain Abscess / microbiology
  • Brain Abscess / surgery
  • Brain Neoplasms / microbiology
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery
  • Caudate Nucleus / blood supply
  • Caudate Nucleus / microbiology
  • Caudate Nucleus / pathology
  • Caudate Nucleus / surgery
  • Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / diagnosis*
  • Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / epidemiology
  • Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / surgery
  • Cranial Fossa, Posterior / blood supply
  • Cranial Fossa, Posterior / microbiology
  • Cranial Fossa, Posterior / pathology
  • Cranial Fossa, Posterior / surgery
  • Craniotomy / methods
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / physiology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus / diagnosis
  • Hydrocephalus / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nocardia / drug effects
  • Nocardia / growth & development
  • Nocardia / isolation & purification
  • Nocardia Infections / diagnosis*
  • Nocardia Infections / drug therapy
  • Nocardia Infections / epidemiology
  • Nocardia Infections / surgery
  • Occipital Lobe / blood supply
  • Occipital Lobe / microbiology
  • Occipital Lobe / pathology
  • Occipital Lobe / surgery
  • Species Specificity
  • Telencephalon / blood supply
  • Telencephalon / microbiology
  • Telencephalon / pathology
  • Telencephalon / surgery
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / diagnosis
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / microbiology

Substances

  • Aminoglycosides
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents