An HIV-infected patient with Nocardia asteroides bilateral pneumonia.
Pneumonia remains a concern for persons with long-standing HIV infection. We present a case of a 43-year-old HIV-infected woman with bilateral pneumonia whose presentation suggested the cause was a bacterial pathogen. A chest of radiograph and CT scan of the chest revealed infiltrates and adenopathies, but this did not help in the differential diagnosis. A Gram stain of a sputum specimen revealed gram-positive filamentous rods, and infection with Nocardia asteroides was diagnosed. The patient was started on a regimen of ceftriaxone and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and experienced significant improvement within a few days.
Unkle
David W
DW
University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Nursing, USA.
Ricketti
Anthony J
AJ
Cleri
Dennis J
DJ
Moser
Robert L
RL
Vernaleo
John R
JR
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D009617:Nocardia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D009616:Nocardia asteroides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011859:Radiography; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination