title: Systemic nocardiosis in a splenectomized patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: successful treatment using linezolid.
abstract: A splenectomized patient with systemic lupus erythematosus, who had previously been treated with high doses of corticosteroids, presented with headaches and symptoms of a respiratory tract infection. A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain revealed a ring-enhancing lesion, and Nocardia asteroides was isolated from a stereotactic biopsy specimen. After adverse reactions to a number of antibiotics, infection control was finally achieved by the new oxazolidinone drug, linezolid. Nocardiosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in all immunocompromised patients who develop an obscure infection; delay in diagnosis and subsequent initiation of appropriate treatment often results in a fatal outcome. Linezolid is a new option for the treatment of nocardiosis and is effective when given orally.
authors.affiliation: The Rheumatology Unit, Southampton University Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom. rkmoitra@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Rupak K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Moitra
authors.forename: Cressida
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Auckland
authors.forename: Michael I D
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Cawley
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Cyrus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cooper