title: Nocardial brain abscess in an immunocompetent host.
abstract: Nocardial infection of the central nervous system is rare and usually manifests as brain abscess. Here we describe an elderly gentleman who presented with signs and symptoms of an intracranial mass lesion localising to the frontal lobe. Clinical examination and CT scan suggested neoplasia as the probable diagnosis. A biloculated abscess was seen at surgery. Aspiration of the contents and examination of pus revealed Nocardia asteroides . Treatment included total excision and prolonged antibiotic therapy which resulted in an excellent outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore-560 034, Karnataka, India. soniamarydias@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagarathna
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahadevan
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Chandramouli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chandramuki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006257:Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009617:Nocardia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D009616:Nocardia asteroides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013492:Suppuration / Q000382:microbiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents