title: Clinical pattern of nocardiosis in Saudi Arabia: a case series.
abstract: We aimed to study the clinical pattern of nocardiosis in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia using a retrospective review of cases from 1987 to 2003. A total of 19 patients were identified as having culture-proven nocardial infection. The most common underlying condition was renal transplantation in 8 patients (42%). Lungs were the most common sites of involvement in 12 patients (63%). Three Nocardia species were isolated in our series: N. asteroides (58%), N. brasiliensis (21%), and N. otitidiscaviarum (21%). A high index of suspicion is essential in susceptible patients presenting with pulmonary infiltrate, cerebral abscess or deep soft-tissue abscess and usually requires an active diagnostic workup and early administration of appropriate therapy.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. ahakawi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hakawi
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Al Rabiah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D009617:Nocardia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination