Case of muscle abscess due to disseminated nocardiosis in a patient with autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and review of the published work.

Abstract

Although disseminated nocardiosis has been increasing with the expansion of immunosuppressive therapy and improvement in diagnostic methods, muscle abscess is a rare complication. There have been only nine case reports of muscle abscess due to Nocardia infection in the English-language published work. We present a case of muscle abscess with disseminated nocardiosis, and review the published work. The patient had been taking prednisolone at 20 mg a day for autoimmune hemolytic anemia for 14 years. She presented with erythema on her thigh resembling cellulitis. Computed tomography showed muscle abscess. The isolated organism was identified as Nocardia farcinica employing polymerase chain reaction and antibiotic sensitivity testing. The diagnosis of muscle abscess due to nocardiosis can be easily missed because there are no characteristic symptoms.

• Authors: Yoshiko Ukai, Noriki Fujimoto, Norikazu Fujii, Masae Shirai, Makiko Wakabayashi, Toshiaki Uenishi, Yusuke Koizumi, Keiko Hodohara, Kaoru Shimizu, Toshihiro Tanaka
• Journal: The Journal of dermatology (J Dermatol) Vol. 39 Issue 5 Pg. 466-9 (May 2012) ISSN: 1346-8138 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22011194 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: © 2011 Japanese Dermatological Association.

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
• Prednisolone

Topics

• Abscess (drug therapy, etiology)
• Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune (complications, drug therapy)
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Brain Abscess (drug therapy, etiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (adverse effects)
• Middle Aged
• Muscular Diseases (drug therapy, etiology)
• Nocardia (isolation & purification)
• Nocardia Infections (complications, drug therapy, etiology)
• Prednisolone (adverse effects)
• Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination (therapeutic use)