Pulmonary Nocardiosis: Risk Factors, Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Prognosis

Raquel Martínez; Soledad Reyes; Rosario Menéndez

Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2008;14(3):219-227.

Conclusion

Pulmonary nocardiosis is an infection that affects immunodepressed patients, patients with chronic lung pathologies, and patients who have received continued treatment with oral corticoids. Thus, we can include the patients with early patient-oriented care (EPOC) who receive chronic or intermittent treatment with oral corticoids as patients susceptible to infection by Nocardia. The diagnosis of pulmonary nocardiosis requires a high index of suspicion, as the presenting symptoms are nonspecific, initial visualization is often not possible with routine stains, and identification requires prolonged cultures. This infection has a high mortality rate, and it is underestimated because it is difficult to recognize, resulting in both a late diagnosis and delayed treatment. We feel it is fundamental to increase awareness about this infrequent microorganism for increasing clinical suspicion, which would lead to further specific microbiological studies and treatment.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by the CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES). The CIBERES is an initiative of the ISCIII.

Reprint Address

Dr Raquel Martínez Tomás, MD, Servicio de neumología. Hospital Universitario La Fe., Avda de Campanar 21, 46009 Valencia, Spain Tel: +34 963862764; fax: +34 961973089; rasmartinez@hotmail.com

Cite this: Pulmonary Nocardiosis: Risk Factors, Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Prognosis - Medscape - May 01, 2008.

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