title: Specific clinical manifestations ofNocardia: A case report and literature review.
abstract: Nocardiosis is a rare bacterial infection of either the lungs (pulmonary) or body (systemic) that usually affects immunocompromised individuals. It is caused by Gram-positive, aerobic actinomycetes of theNocardiagenus. Multiple high-density sheet shadows in both lungs along with nodules or cavities are the most common presentations of nocardiosis, whereas a large pulmonary mass is considered to be rare. However, there is no specificity in the clinical manifestation of the disease. Therefore, isolation and identification ofNocardiastrains is the only reliable diagnostic method. The present study describes the cases of two male patients of Asian descent with nocardiosis. Chest computed tomography scans showed a suspected tumor mass in both patients. Microscopic analysis and culturing of tissue samples obtained using a bronchoscope detected the presence ofNocardia wallacei. Neither patient showed signs of immunosuppression. The present study aimed to improve the understanding of lung nocardiosis and demonstrated that pulmonary nocardiosis should be suspected in the case of non-immunocompromised patients with a large mass in the lung. Furthermore, a review of the literature on infection withNocardiawas conducted.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Haidian, Beijing 100038, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Songsong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Department, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Shijingshan, Beijing 100043, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Department, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Shijingshan, Beijing 100043, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qiuhong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Peking University First Hospital, Xicheng, Beijing 100034, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jixin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Haidian, Beijing 100038, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fengcai
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yan
keywords: clinical manifestation; nocardia; opportunistic infection; pulmonary nocardiosis