Nocardiosis: a literature review and a case report of Nocardia asteroides infection
Harris, G.K.
American Journal of Medical Technology 46(1): 44-48
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9335 PMID: 6986084 Document Number: 156812
The diagnosis of nocardiosis and the difficulties encountered in the isolation and identification of the aetiological agent are discussed. Treatment with sulphonamides, maintained for several months at a serum conc. of 8-15 mu g/ml, is sometimes effective, and synergistic behaviour with sulphonamides and trimethoprim or sulphamethoxazole has been reported. In the reported case a 39-yr-old man died after a 4-month period of increasing symptoms including chest and shoulder pains, high temp. and unilateral spasms culminating with nausea and severe headache. Nocardia asteroides was isolated from lung abscesses found during thoracotomy, but the patient died from intracranial pressure due to multiple brain abscesses just after sulphonamide treatment was instituted.