The neurocognitive outcome of nocardia: a brief, longitudinal case study.
Nocardia infection is a rare bacterial disorder that tends to affect the lungs and, in immunocompromised individuals, may progress to the brain. The brief, consecutive neuropsychological and neurobehavioral data of a 49-year-old male who developed multiple nocardia-related brain abscesses in the left frontal, occipital, and right cerebellar areas are reviewed. Neuropsychological findings indicated that he maintained mild-to-moderate impairments, primarily in executive functions, upon follow-up evaluation 43 days subsequent to baseline evaluation. This case demonstrates the utility of brief, serial neuropsychological screening in tracking the progression of an infectious process for the purposes of treatment planning and disposition.
Horwitz
Javan L
JL
Department of Neuropsychology, Indiana Neuroscience Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Barisa
Mark T
MT
Davis
Andrew S
AS
D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009617:Nocardia Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods