[Pulmonary infection with Nocardia species: a report of 10 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical features of pulmonary nocardiosis.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed ten consecutive patients (5 men, 5 women; aged 25 to 80 years (average 49.3 years)) with confirmed bacteriological pulmonary nocardiosis from 1998 to 2003. Patients were divided into two groups: infected (8 patients) and isolated (2 patients).


RESULTS
All patients had predisposing factors and/or pulmonary disease. Six were immunosuppressed by steroid therapy with or without other immunosuppressive drugs. The overall survival rate among infected patients was 75.0% (6/8), but the survival rate of patients who were diagnosed speedily by a gram-stain procedure was 85.7% (6/7).


CONCLUSIONS
Although pulmonary nocardiosis is difficult to diagnose, prompt use of the gram-staining procedure and appropriate treatment appeared to improve survival. And new diagnostic method is desirable.
Takiguchi
Yasuo
Y
Department of Chest Medicine, Chiba Aoba Municipal Hospital.
Uruma
Reiko
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009615:Nocardia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009617:Nocardia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone