Nocardiosis

Nocardiosis is an acute/chronic suppurative (occasionally granulomatous) disease caused by Nocardia, which belongs to the actinomycetes.

Common Symptoms

Chest pain; visual disturbance; night sweats; confusion; convulsions; fatigue; dizziness; weight loss; multiple nodules

Causes and Pathogenesis

N. asteroides and N. brasiliensis predominate; the latter is highly virulent and may cause outbreaks. Common features: delicate branching hyphae 0.2-0.3 µm, septate after ~10+ hours, fragmenting into rods/branched filaments; Gram-positive, cell wall type IX, sugar type A, containing LCN-A lipids and nocardic acid, G+C 60-70 mol%. Over 100 species are widespread in soil, mostly aerobic. Pathogens enter via trauma/respiratory/GI routes, then localize or disseminate hematogenously to brain/kidney/other organs.

Treatment

Drug therapy, supportive therapy

Preventive Measures

Prevent trauma; disinfect wounds with gentian violet/iodine; maintain personal hygiene; early combined antimicrobial therapy prevents dissemination.

Department to Visit

It is recommended to visit the Infectious Diseases department; an appointment can be booked on this platform before the visit.

Warm reminder: The above information is for health science reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek medical attention at a regular hospital promptly.