Nocardia asteroides-infected aneurysm of the aorta: case report and review of the literature.

Abstract

Infected aneurysms of the aorta were first described as a result of septic emboli or contiguous spread from bacterial endocarditis and are usually caused by Staphylococcus or Salmonella species. We report a case of Nocardia-associated infected aneurysm of the native suprarenal aorta in an immunocompromised host. Surgical management consisted of placement of an interposition cryopreserved aortic homograft. Nocardia asteroides was identified on a microbiology specimen of the aorta and both microbiology and pathology specimens of the splenic tissue. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first carefully documented, unique case of a Nocardia-infected aneurysm treated with homograft interposition. In addition, pathologic and microbiologic data are included from the postmortem examination 10 months later.

• Authors: Jonathan D Gates, James A Warth, Katherine McGowan
• Journal: Vascular (Vascular) Vol. 14 Issue 3 Pg. 165-8 ( 2006) ISSN: 1708-5381 [Print] England
• PMID: 16956490 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Aneurysm, Infected (microbiology, surgery)
• Aortic Aneurysm (microbiology, surgery)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunocompromised Host
• Middle Aged
• Nocardia Infections (complications, immunology, surgery)
• Nocardia asteroides
• Opportunistic Infections (complications, immunology, surgery)