RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Nocardia osteomyelitis and epidural abscess in the nonimmunosuppressed host
JF Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
JO Cleve Clin J Med
FD Cleveland Clinic
SP 453
OP 459
VO 50
IS 4
A1 Petersen, John M.
A1 Awad, Issam
A1 Ahmad, Muzaffar
A1 Bay, Janet W.
A1 McHenry, Martin C.
YR 1983
UL http://www.ccjm.org/content/50/4/453.abstract
AB We present a case of invasive nocardiosis in a nonimmunosuppressed host with pulmonary and neurosurgical complications, treated successfully with extensive surgical debridement and longterm antibiotic therapy. No underlying neoplasm or cellular or humoral immune defect was detected. The Cleveland Clinic’s experience with nocardiosis from 1967-1982 is reviewed. This review exemplifies the well-described augmented risk of Nocardia infection in the immunosuppressed host with a history of prolonged antibiotic, corticosteroid, or cytotoxic therapy, along with malignancy and cellular immunity dysfunction. The spectrum of invasive pulmonary nocardiosis in the nonimmunosuppressed patient should be recognized so as to understand the natural history and prognosis of this potentially lethal infection.