Nocardiosis

Nocardiosis
Classification and external resources
Specialty	infectious disease
ICD-10	A43
ICD-9-CM	039.9
DiseasesDB	9058
eMedicine	med/1644 derm/297 ped/1610
MeSH	D009617
[]

Nocardiosis is an infectious disease affecting either the lungs (pulmonary nocardiosis) or the whole body (systemic nocardiosis). It is due to infection by bacterium of the genus Nocardia, most commonly Nocardia asteroides or Nocardia brasiliensis.

It is most common in men, especially those with a weakened immune system. In patients with brain infection, mortality exceeds 80%; in other forms, mortality is 50%, even with appropriate therapy.

It is one of several conditions that have been called the great imitator. Cutaneous nocardiosis commonly occurs in immunocompetent hosts.

Pulmonary infection

Neurological infection

Cardiac conditions

Lymphocutaneous disease

Ocular disease

Disseminated nocardiosis

Normally found in soil, these organisms cause occasional sporadic disease in humans and animals throughout the world. Another well publicized find is that of Nocardia as an oral microflora. Nocardia spp. have been reported in the normal gingiva and periodontal pockets along with other species such as Actinomyces, Arthromyces and Streptomyces spp.

The usual mode of transmission is inhalation of organisms suspended in dust. Another very common method is that by traumatic introduction, especially in the jaw. This leads to the entrance of Nocardia into the blood stream and the propagation of its pathogenic effects. Transmission by direct inoculation through puncture wounds or abrasions is less common. Generally, nocardial infection requires some degree of immune suppression.

A weakened immune system is a general indicator of someone who is more susceptible to nocardiosis, such as someone who already has a disease that weakens their immune system. Additionally, those with low T-cell counts or other complications involving T-cells can expect to have a higher chance of becoming infected. Besides those with weak immune systems, a local traumatic inoculation can cause nocardiosis, specifically the cutaneous, lymphocutaneous, and subcutaneous forms of the disease.

Diagnosis of nocardiosis can be done by a doctor using various techniques. These techniques include, but are not limited to: a chest x-rays of the lung, a bronchoscopy, a brain/lung/skin biopsy, or a sputum culture.

...
Wikipedia