Primary cutaneous nocardiosis in an immune-competent patient
Z'Graggen, W.J.; Bregenzer, T.; Fankhauser, H.; Arnoux, A.; Laeng, H.; Itin, P.H.
European Journal of Dermatology Ejd 11(6): 569-571
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 1167-1122 PMID: 11701411 Document Number: 536606
We present a patient who was hospitalized due to a purulent skin lesion with a surrounding erythematous area in the region of the right paranasal crease accompanied by a swelling of the right eyelid. Initially the diagnosis of a carbuncle caused by an infection with Staphylococcus aureus was supposed. A surgical debridement was performed and an antibiotic therapy was started. Only special microbial investigations requested by the clinician led to the diagnosis of a cutaneous infection with Nocardia brasiliensis. The presented case is remarkable because the nocardia infection was in an immune-competent patient and the patient showed a primary cutaneous nocardiosis without dissemination.