nocardia pneumonia
Last reviewed 01/2018
- rare
- chronic suppurative pneumonia caused by Nocardia asteroides
- may occur in normal individuals; more common in the immunocompromised host
- lung involvement:
- may be a single lesion or extension consolidation with cavitation
- pleural disease and empyema may occur
- may be metastatic spread
- sputum culture reveals organism with characteristics:
- gram-positive hyphae
- acid fast
- grows fast on aerobic culture
- treatment:
- high dose sulphonamide