A Case of Disseminated Nocardiosis Secondary to the Skin Nodules in an Elderly Woman.
- Author:
Seung Gyun IN
1
;
Sung Hyup HAN
;
Jeong Hyun SHIN
;
Gwang Seong CHOI
;
Moon Hyun CHUNG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Disseminated nocardiosis; Nocardia; Nocardiosis
- MeSH: Aged; Elbow; Exudates and Transudates; Female; Forearm; Hand; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Lung; Nocardia; Nocardia Infections; Respiratory System; Skin; Thorax; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
- From:Annals of Dermatology 2008;20(2):82-85
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Nocardiosis refers to a locally invasive or disseminated infection associated with the Nocardia species. Most infections enter through the respiratory tract and then disseminate systemically. Rarely can a primary nocardial infection of the skin spread to contiguous structures or disseminate to other internal organs in immunocompromised hosts. We describe a 70-year-old woman who suffered from recurrent nodular skin lesions on her right hand, forearm and elbow following inoculation of a traumatic injury. Analysis of the purulent exudates obtained from the nodule revealed Nocardia species. After 20 days, a chest X-ray showed newly developed multiple nodules in both lungs. The diagnosis of systemic nocardiosis was established, and we treated this case with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
