Pulmonary nocardiosis in a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patient

Infection. 2002 Aug;30(4):243-5. doi: 10.1007/s15010-002-2102-5.

Abstract

Nocardiosis is an opportunistic infection especially in immunocompromised patients. Lungs are the most common infection sites and therapy poses some difficulties. We describe a case of pulmonary infection with Nocardia asteroides in a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patient. Although the mortality from pulmonary nocardiosis is high in immunocompromised patients, our patient was successfully treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ) and amikacin. Maintenance therapy with TMP/SMZ was continued for 1 year. This case supports the importance of the long-term maintenance treatment after the initial combination therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amikacin / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Lung Diseases / drug therapy
  • Lung Diseases / microbiology*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / complications*
  • Male
  • Nocardia Infections / drug therapy
  • Nocardia Infections / microbiology*
  • Nocardia asteroides / isolation & purification
  • Nocardia asteroides / pathogenicity
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
  • Amikacin