title: Nocardia farcinica bacteraemia presenting as a prostate abscess.
abstract: Nocardia is characterised as a Gram positive filamentous rod and is found worldwide in soil, decaying vegetable matter and aquatic environments. Localised pulmonary infection is the most common clinical presentation. However, Nocardia can present in a wide variety of clinical manifestations, especially in the immunocompromised individual. We present the first case of a prostate abscess caused by Nocardia farcinica in a man with a history of severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. He had been on long term immunosuppression for this with prednisolone and etanercept. His Nocardia was likely contracted through direct skin inoculation while gardening with haematological dissemination to the prostate. He responded well to long term sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.
authors.affiliation: Resident Medical Officer, Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders Drive, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scorey
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Consultant, Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders Drive, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia.
authors.forename: Santhosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daniel
keywords: Corticosteroids; Immunosuppression; Nocardia farcinica; Nocardiosis; Prostate abscess