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Respiratory system
Respiratory system

Pulmonary nocardiosis
Definition:
Pulmonary nocardiosis is an infection of the lung that is caused by the fungus-like bacterium Nocardia asteroides.

Alternative Names:
Nocardiosis - pulmonary

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Nocardia infection develops when you inhale the bacteria. The infection causes pneumobia-like symptoms but is often not limited to the lungs. Infection can spread to any part of the body, but brain and skin infections are the most common complications.

In the US, there are 500-1,000 news cases of nocardia infection diagnosed each year.

People at highest risk for nocardia infection are people with impaired immune systems, including people with HIV, people receiving chronic therapy with steroid medication, and people who have received organ transplants. People suffering chronic lung problems related to smoking, emphysema, or other infections such as tuberculosis are also at increased risk.

Pulmonary (lung) manifestations of nocardiosis are more common in children than adults.
Symptoms:
Signs and tests:
  • Decreased breath sounds in the lung
  • Crackles (rales) in the infected lung when listening with stethoscope
  • Chest X-ray
  • CT scan
  • Sputum stain and culture
  • Bronchial alveolar lavage - fluid is sent for stain and culture
  • Pleural fluid culture and stain
  • Bronchoscopy
Treatment:

The objective of treatment is to control the infection. Antibiotics are used, but the response to treatment may be slow and the medications must be continued for at least 6 months. Patients who have medication allergies will need to take alternative antibiotics.

Surgery may be needed to remove or drain infected areas.
Expectations (prognosis):
The probable outcome is generally good when diagnosis and treatment are prompt. Outcome is poor when the infection is widespread and treatment has been delayed.
Complications:
Calling your health care provider:
Call your health care provider if symptoms of this disorder develop. Early diagnosis and treatment may possibly improve the chance of a good outcome.
Prevention:

Caution when using corticosteroids may be helpful; these drugs should be used sparingly and in the lowest effective doses and for the shortest periods of time possible when they are needed.

Some patients with impaired immune systems may need to take antibiotics for long periods of time to prevent the infection from recurring.
Review Date: 7/30/2002
Reviewed By: Christopher Parsons, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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