Nocardia farcinica complicating Cogan's syndrome.

Abstract

Nocardiosis is an uncommon bacterial gram-positive infection caused by aerobic actinomycetes in the genus Nocardia. Nocardiosis is typically regarded as an opportunistic infection with approximately two-thirds of infected patients being immunocompromised. In this case report we describe a 45-year-old female who presented with a right thigh abscess. She had been taking high-dose prednisolone and ciclosporin for Cogan's syndrome. She presented with erythema and severe pain over her right thigh. Ultrasound showed a collection and Nocardia farcinica was isolated. This case report stresses the importance of considering atypical infections in immunocompromised patients, even with minor symptoms, to avoid delay in diagnosis and treatment.

• Authors: Dimos Merinopoulos, Haroon Khan, Sara Ginwalla, Suzanne Lane, Richard Watts
• Journal: Oxford medical case reports (Oxf Med Case Reports) Vol. 2014 Issue 2 Pg. 36-8 (May 2014) ISSN: 2053-8855 [Print] England
• PMID: 25988020 (Publication Type: Case Reports)